Sydney surfer named a hero after Botany Bay rescue

A reluctant hero surfer will be recommended for a bravery award by police. 

Sydney man Chris Noble risked his life to help rescue four people whose runabout capsized yesterday in Botany Bay.

Mr Noble was surfing off La Perouse when he saw the boat hit by a freak wave near Bare Island.

The runabout capsized, throwing three men into the water.

Mr Noble rescued two men who weren't strong swimmers, before he was told one man remained trapped on board.

He then dived down below the boat and unlocked the hatch.

Mr Noble believed a small air pocket in the cabin kept the man alive.

"We called out to him to try and get out the latch if he could. He was able to thankfully...  and then he came up and he was pretty white. He was suffering a lot of shock," he said.

Sergeant John Cox from NSW Water Police praised Mr Noble for his bravery.

"It's something that people might say you just help people, but if he wasn't there and he didn't do what he did, someone could have lost their life".

Mr Noble played down the rescue saying "I know the water and I just seemed to do what was right".