I'm A Celeb star saves three-year-old's life after terrifying incident

Former Australia rugby star Nick Cummins has been hailed as a hero after he saved a three-year-old girl from choking in a playground.

The 38-year-old - who earned the nickname 'Honey Badger' during his playing career due to his colourful personality and fearlessness on the pitch - won 15 caps for the Wallabies and represented the likes of Western Force before hanging up his boots in 2016. He has since become a TV personality, appearing on shows like The BachelorAustralia and I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!

Now, the former wing is back in the spotlight after rushing to help the young girl, Maddy, who started choking at Lower Eltham Playground in Melbourne on what was her third birthday on Saturday.

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According to Maddy's family, Cummins held her upside down and gave her "a couple of extra strong thumps" to dislodge the lolly she was choking on, saving her life.

It wasn't until the girl's grandmother, Robyn, shared the story on Facebook that a passer-by identified the former Wallabies star as the hero of the hour.

"I wanted to thank the man who saved my granddaughter's life on Saturday 4th October at the Lower Eltham Playground," she 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."

A witness then responded to the post and identified Cummins as the mystery hero, writing: "I was there at the park with my daughters at the time. Both your daughter and granddaughter were extremely brave during and after this very scary ordeal.

"I'm not sure if he would want to be named or not, but since he so readily jumped in to help and I'm sure he would be grateful for the thanks; the man who saved her was Nick 'Honey Badger' Cummins.

"I'm so glad your granddaughter is doing well and happily played and enjoyed her party afterwards."

Cummins is no stranger to heroic deeds, having previously gone viral in 2021 for rescuing a sheep trapped in a barbed wire fence. A video of the act, which was viewed millions of times online, shows him pulling over in his car after spotting the trapped animal at the side of the road.

He then uses his strength to free the sheep's head and lift it over the fence to set it free, ending the video by smiling to the camera and saying "you're welcome".