Manila: A Filipino surfer hailed as a hero for saving a fellow competitor during a Southeast Asia Games contest won a gold medal on Sunday, even beating the rival he rescued on his way to glory.
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Roger Casugay became an online sensation after he lept from his board to help Indonesian Arip Nurhidayat, who had got into difficulty in choppy waters in a SEA Games longboard qualifying round in the northern Philippines.
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The 25-year-old managed to reach Nurhidayat after he lost his board in the swell, and the pair rode back to shore together on Casugay’s board.
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“He wasn’t drowning but he was floating away,” Casugay told AFP by phone, adding it was possible the big waves could have pulled the Indonesian out to sea beyond rescue.
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Casugay, from the northern town of Bacnotan near the surfing venue in La Union, explained how event organisers stopped the competition after Nurhidayat got into trouble.
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“He thanked me and then said sorry,” the Filipino rider said.
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“I told him not to say sorry because that’s the way it is. There is no way of knowing what will happen.”
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Many thought Casugay might have blown his nailed-on gold medal after the incident on Friday, but the Filipino beat Nurhidayat in the pair’s semi-final clash on Sunday.
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Asked if he thought the Indonesian threw the duel in gratitude for saving his life, Casugay said he beat him fair and square.
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“He said he is not used to big waves,” he said.
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But the rest of Casugay’s journey to the top of the podium was hardly plain sailing.
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In the gold medal contest against fellow Filipino Rogelio Esquivel he damaged his board, and briefly lost the lead.
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Casugay called up a spare however, and managed to overhaul his countryman to take first place.
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Back on dry land, his bravery and selflessness generated thousands of comments on social media.
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“Not all heroes wear capes,” one Facebook user wrote. “This one has a surfboard!”
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