Ex-Wallabies star Nick Cummins, famously known as the 'Honey Badger', turned hero at a Melbourne playground, saving a three-year-old girl from a near-fatal choking incident. The 38-year-old, who retired from professional rugby in 2016, was at the Lower Eltham Playground when he noticed the child in distress and took swift action that likely saved her life.
The dramatic rescue occurred on a sunny morning as preparations for the toddler’s third birthday were underway. The little girl, Maddy, began choking on a soft candy, a situation that left her mother panicked and unable to relieve her daughter's distress. According to the child’s grandmother, Robyn, who later recounted the event on a local Facebook group, it was Cummins’ intervention that turned the tide. “
'Then a big strong young bloke appeared from nowhere, and after a couple of unsuccessful attempts held Maddy upside down applying a couple of extra strong thumps which successfully dislodged it from her trachea.'
” She expressed her eternal gratitude towards Cummins, vowing to remember his heroic act every year on Maddy’s birthday.
An eyewitness at the scene, who also participated in the Facebook thread, confirmed Cummins’ identity. “Both your daughter and granddaughter were extremely brave during and after this very scary ordeal. The man who saved her was Nick ‘Honey Badger’ Cummins,” she wrote. Cummins’ management later affirmed his involvement in the act of quick thinking and bravery.
This isn’t the first time Cummins has been spotlighted for his off-field heroics. In 2021, he was celebrated online after rescuing a sheep entangled in barbed wire, showcasing his enduring rugged Aussie spirit. Known during his rugby days for his powerful runs and unique sense of humor, Cummins has since carved out a niche in television, gaining further popularity as a contestant on The Bachelor Australia in 2018.
Through actions like these, Cummins continues to demonstrate the qualities that made him a beloved figure not just on the rugby field, but in everyday life as well. His quick response and decisive action at the playground are a testament to his character, proving that heroes come in many forms—even retired rugby players.
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Ex-Wallabies star Nick Cummins, famously known as the 'Honey Badger', turned hero at a Melbourne playground, saving a three-year-old girl from a near-fatal choking incident. The 38-year-old, who retired from professional rugby in 2016, was at the Lower Eltham Playground when he noticed the child in distress and took swift action that likely saved her life.
The dramatic rescue occurred on a sunny morning as preparations for the toddler’s third birthday were underway. The little girl, Maddy, began choking on a soft candy, a situation that left her mother panicked and unable to relieve her daughter's distress. According to the child’s grandmother, Robyn, who later recounted the event on a local Facebook group, it was Cummins’ intervention that turned the tide. “
'Then a big strong young bloke appeared from nowhere, and after a couple of unsuccessful attempts held Maddy upside down applying a couple of extra strong thumps which successfully dislodged it from her trachea.'
” She expressed her eternal gratitude towards Cummins, vowing to remember his heroic act every year on Maddy’s birthday.An eyewitness at the scene, who also participated in the Facebook thread, confirmed Cummins’ identity. “Both your daughter and granddaughter were extremely brave during and after this very scary ordeal. The man who saved her was Nick ‘Honey Badger’ Cummins,” she wrote. Cummins’ management later affirmed his involvement in the act of quick thinking and bravery.
This isn’t the first time Cummins has been spotlighted for his off-field heroics. In 2021, he was celebrated online after rescuing a sheep entangled in barbed wire, showcasing his enduring rugged Aussie spirit. Known during his rugby days for his powerful runs and unique sense of humor, Cummins has since carved out a niche in television, gaining further popularity as a contestant on The Bachelor Australia in 2018.
Through actions like these, Cummins continues to demonstrate the qualities that made him a beloved figure not just on the rugby field, but in everyday life as well. His quick response and decisive action at the playground are a testament to his character, proving that heroes come in many forms—even retired rugby players.