Geelong cats star Patrick Dangerfield praised for saving three swimmers at Victoria’s Moggs Creek

AFL star Patrick Dangerfield has been praised for his bravery after saving three swimmers who became caught in a rip in rough seas off a Victorian beach.

Just before midday on Sunday, 11-year-old Josephine became caught in a rip off Moggs Creek on the Great Ocean Road.

Watch the dramatic rescue in the video player above

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Her mother Julie and a friend tried to help, but they too were dragged out to sea.

Dangerfield was on the beach playing with his kids when a woman ran to tell him there were people struggling in the water.

“They were caught in a rip, which is something that happens along that coast quite often,” Dangerfield told 7NEWS.

“You sort of know pretty quickly if someone is really struggling to swim and stay upright and you could tell they weren’t in a great place.”

Dangerfield immediately paddled out on his surfboard about 400 metres to reach the group.

He was then able to keep the trio afloat.

“He said: ‘I’m here to help. Hold onto my foot’,” mother Julie told 7NEWS.

“He was absolutely fantastic. He was calm and in control of the situation.”

Footage taken from the rescue helicopter also shows the Geelong Cats star helping them to safety on the back of a lifesaver’s jetski.

“It’s a very brave and selfless thing that he did,” surf lifesaver Samuel Ord said.

Lifesavers said if the AFL star had not been there to help the group out of the rip current, it could have been a grim outcome.

“I just think as humans if you see someone struggling, you have a responsibility if you feel you can, so I just think it’s what you do,” Dangerfield said.

“I basically just went out there and tried to help where I could.

“It was pretty hairy weather and waves, so it’s great to see