Rugby Star's Heroic Ocean Rescue Earns Bravery Honour
A promising Sydney Roosters rugby league player has been formally recognised for his courageous actions after saving his father's life during a terrifying spearfishing incident off the New South Wales coast.
Blake Steep, a 20-year-old lock forward standing at 187cm, received a silver medal from the Royal Humane Society of NSW in a ceremony presided over by State Governor Margaret Beazley last Thursday. The award acknowledges citizens who demonstrate exceptional bravery in life-threatening situations.
The Fateful Diving Expedition
The dramatic events unfolded when Steep and his father Brent swam approximately 800 metres out to the headland at Delicate Beach, located about 15 kilometres north of Port Macquarie. The pair were free diving to depths around 10 metres when the situation turned critical.
In an earlier interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, Steep recounted how his father surfaced from a dive complaining of feeling unwell before suffering a full cardiac emergency. "He came up from a dive and told me he began to feel unwell," Steep revealed, describing the moment his father's heart attack began.
Perilous Rescue Attempt
Reacting instantly, the young Roosters player grabbed his father and manoeuvred him toward the nearest rocky outcrop. During the desperate struggle to pull his father from the water, both men sustained deep cuts and significant scrapes from the sharp rocks.
Realising they needed urgent assistance, Steep made the courageous decision to swim back to shore for help. During this frantic swim, he encountered multiple sharks and noticed blood in the water from their injuries. "Far out this could be bad," Steep recalled thinking during the harrowing swim.
After raising the alarm, the determined athlete swam back to his father, where they shared what Steep feared might be their final moments together. "He broke down in tears, I was in tears," Steep emotionally recounted. "He started preparing me for the worst. He gave me his last words. His promises as a man."
Brent instructed his son to care for the family, look after his mother, and return to Sydney to focus on his rugby career. Meanwhile, Steep attempted to reassure his father, telling him "You're strong, you're tough" despite the grave circumstances.
Miraculous Survival and Recovery
After approximately an hour, help arrived in the form of a jet ski, and Brent was rushed to hospital via ambulance. He subsequently underwent surgery and has since made a full recovery.
The grateful father didn't hesitate to credit his son for his survival. "If Blake wasn't there, I'm not here now," Brent stated emphatically. "There's no way in the world I could've got back to the beach from where I was."
Despite the traumatic experience, Blake Steep has demonstrated remarkable professional dedication, playing 22 matches for the Roosters this season and recently signing a contract extension that will keep him at the club until the end of 2028.
Roosters Head of Recruitment Joel Carbone praised the Port Macquarie native's character, noting: "He's a player who works hard for every opportunity, and his growth over the past couple of seasons is a credit to his approach and consistency."
Steep made his NRL debut for the Roosters in Round 13 of the 2024 season and continues to build an impressive rugby career alongside his newfound status as a recognised hero.
