Netizens Laud Filipino Surfer After Saving Indonesian Rival Over Chance Of Winning Gold

Amidst the chance of winning gold for the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games 2019 surfing competition in the Philippines, Filipino surfer Roger Casugay of La Union chose to save a life over a chance of winning a gold medal.

Casugay, who is representing the country in the men’s longboard open category, saved the life of Indonesian surfer Arip Nurhidayat from drowning when the latter’s surfing board leash snapped in the middle of the competition.

As reported by the Philippine Information Agency, Casugay stopped when he saw that Nurhidayat was waving his hands and trying his best to rise from the waves.

The Filipino surfer was leading in points and surfing alongside Nurhidayat, set the match aside and quickly turned around to rescue his Indonesian rival.

Furthermore, the two were competing for almost 18 minutes.

Both surfers came to the shore riding in Casugay’s board as they were assisted by rescue marshals who got on their own boards and personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard.

Big applause from the organizers and spectators who witnessed the incident greeted Casugay.

According to the organizers, the competition was postponed under further notice due to strong waves reaching almost 10 feet.

In several social media posts, netizens lauded Casugay’s act of heroism and expressed that he showed the true Filipino spirit attached to this year’s 30th SEA Games battlecry, #WeWinAsOne.