An Australian family has thanked US surfing "legend" Kelly Slater after the star saved a mother and a young toddler from "a freak wave" in Hawaii.
Father Chris White, a photographer from Perth, posted his thanks to the 11-time world surf champion on Instagram after his wife Sarah and 22-month old son Van were swamped by a huge wave as they walked along a footpath close to Rockpiles - situated in front of Ehukai Beach - renowned for its surf.
Kelly Slater, fresh from his struggles at a near by competition in Waimea, was unbelievably on hand to rescue the pair after North Beach mum Sarah lost grip on Van's pram.
Speaking to Seven News Perth Sarah re-lived the terrifying ordeal.
"The wave, it was like a tsunami, just this big flood of water. The only thing I was thinking was 'I don't want my son to drown, I don't want my son to drown'. I just held on to that pram as long as I could and there was a point I got bumped and I let go. I though that's it."
Slater was on hand to grab both Van and Sarah and bring them to safety - but that wasn't the end of his heroism.
After driving the pair home he even came back to check on them 24 hours later.
Chris White wasted no time paying tribute to the popular surf champion on social media.
In his Instagram post he said he was "So thankful the surf gods denied @kellylsater today cos for whatever reason he was right there to save my wife and kid".