Nick 'Honey Badger' Cummins hailed a hero after saving three-year-olds life

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The “Honey Badger” stepped up in real life to save a young life — that of three-year-old Maddy — when she started choking at a local playground.

According to Maddy’s family, Cummins acted without hesitation. He held her upside down and gave her “a couple of extra strong thumps” to dislodge the lolly stuck in her throat, saving her life.

The identity of the mystery rescuer only emerged after Maddy’s grandmother, Robyn, posted on Facebook to thank him. A passer-by soon recognised the former Wallabies star as the man who came to her granddaughter’s rescue.

“I wanted to thank the man who saved my granddaughter’s life on Saturday 4th October at the Lower Eltham Playground,” Robyn wrote in her local Facebook group. “It was her 3rd birthday and my daughter was there preparing for the family to arrive.

Maddy started choking on a soft lolly and my daughter was beside herself trying to apply first aid to no avail. 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.

“God bless you, whoever you are, and we will all be forever grateful to you — each year we will remember you.”

For Cummins, it was another moment to lead by example — proving that courage doesn’t just happen on the field, it happens anywhere life demands it most.

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