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An international sportsman who sacrificed his life to save three young girls from drowning at a Northland beach was farewelled yesterday as an "incredible hero".
Clinton Moa, 34, was with his partner and 3-year-old daughter at Mitimiti, west of Kaikohe, when the girls were swept out to sea in a rip on Sunday.
He managed to get all three safely back on land, but was "swept away" before he could save himself.
Friends and family said the Auckland man, who represented New Zealand in American football, drowned within minutes of pushing the last of the girls to shore.
Moa's partner, Ngahuia Jacobs, said he ran to the water as soon as he heard the girls - her nieces - were in trouble. He rescued the girls, one aged 9 and two 13-year-olds, one-by-one.
"Two of the girls were closer to shore and one had been dragged further out," said Jacobs, who was watching from the beach.
"He put the first one on her boogie board and pushed her in, then he did the same with the second one, but when he went to push the third one back in, he pushed himself further out.
"Then I just saw a big wave come over the top of him and he was swept away. He was just gone. My heart fell into my knees and I knew he wasn't coming back."
Jacobs said the last girl rescued told Moa to save himself and leave her behind.
"There's no way he would have done that. He was the most selfless man and it's a true testament to how heroic he really is. He sacrificed his life so that those girls can keep theirs."
Best friend Joseph Liava'a, who spoke at Moa's funeral at St Patrick's Catholic Church in Panmure yesterday, described him as a generous and honourable man.
He said he was not surprised to hear of Moa's heroic death because "it was the kind of thing he would do".
"He was such a generous guy and it was incredibly heroic. He's the kind of guy who wanted to make sure everyone was okay before himself."
Liava'a said Moa loved his job working on the Ports of Auckland's wharf and was "besotted" with Jacobs and their daughter, Nyla-Rose.
Another friend and former lifeguard, Jonathan Towers, said Moa would have known he was going to die when he ran in to save the children.
"It was a West Coast beach and really rough water, so he would have assessed the risks before he went out. I think he would have known he was going to be in danger, but he wouldn't have thought twice about it.
"He would be so happy to know the girls are safe."
Water Safety New Zealand figures reveal there were 19 drownings in the first 27 days of this year.
