NRL star Lachlan Ilias has switched his footy boots for a canoe to rescue a drowning tourist while on holiday in Africa.

The 25-year-old halfback, who began his career with South Sydney before moving to the Dragons ahead of the 2025 season, was on holiday with his partner Regan Stephens when the incident took place.

Watch the 2025 Rugby League Ashes LIVE with no ad-breaks in play on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.

After playing the first seven rounds of this season, Ilias was dropped to NSW Cup and couldn’t find a way back to first grade, despite some excellent form for the reserves.

Linked with a move to the Titans in an effort to find more playing time, last week Ilias and Stephens took off for a holiday to Tanzania and Namibia.

Ilias was poolside in Zanzibar when he spotted someone seemingly in distress out in the water, as he told The Daily Telegraph.

“I saw this guy out there – I thought he was going for a swim next to his canoe,” Ilias said.

“Then all the people in the rooms and around the pool started saying that he needs help, he needs help.

“He kept getting onto his canoe and then falling off, maybe eight or nine times.

“Someone ran down with a staff member and I said to my partner ‘I will go down and help too because I know how to swim’.

“There was a spare canoe and I said ‘I’ll go out, I’m in my boardies and ready to go’.

“I felt like David Hasselhoff with this canoe walking down these stairs.”

Ilias said the man was about 300 metres offshore and when he reached him, the struggling man’s canoe was full of water.

The footy star said the guy was exhausted, eventually getting him into the new canoe and managing to guide both of them back to the beach.

Ilias added he got a hero’s welcome when they made it back and then had a gift waiting for him by the pool.

“As I got back to the hotel, everyone was clapping me and shaking my hand, thanking me in their broken English,” he added.

“He ended up buying me a margarita.

“I got back to my seat beside the pool and it was waiting for me.”

Ilias joined the Dragons on a two-year deal at the start of this season, but fell behind Kyle Flanagan in the battle for the halves.

The Gold Coast are reportedly interested in the New South Welshman, who finished off the season strongly in the NSW Cup, reaching the grand final with the Dragons.

Originally published as NRL star Lachlan Ilias saves a tourist’s life in ‘David Hasselhoff’ act