‘No doubt in his mind’: Family remembers Nicho, who drowned trying to save his surfer friend

When Nicho Muggleton saw his friend in peril, he didn’t hesitate.

Muggleton was standing on Frankston Pier and watching his friend, a 36-year-old British national, trying to surf in rough water during a bout of severe weather across Melbourne last Wednesday.

When the friend’s board snapped and the rookie surfer struggled in the fierce waves, Muggleton jumped into the water and tried to save his mate in treacherous conditions, but soon found himself in trouble, too.

A passerby called Triple Zero and a police helicopter winched the men from the water, but they were unresponsive. Both had already drowned.

Muggleton has been remembered by his friends and family as a loving man who “wouldn’t have been able to live with himself” if he hadn’t tried to rescue his friend.

“There would have been no question, no doubt in his mind of jumping into that water to save his mate,” cousin Harriet Muggleton told The Age.

Muggleton, 43, grew up near Frankston and was a skilled surfer, she said.

“For as long as I can remember, he had that blond surfy hair. He was always in the water, very familiar with the waters down there,” Harriet said.

“He honestly wouldn’t have thought twice about jumping in to save his friend ... he wouldn’t have been able to live with himself had he not jumped into action.”

Harriet said her family extended their condolences to the family of the British man, who are still in the UK. “I hope they can take the tiniest amount of solace knowing that Nicho was with him and they’ve gone together and now they’re together.”

When Harriet and Nicho were young, their families lost contact for several years, but when they reunited – initially through social media – she was over the moon.

“We spent a lot of time together socially, going out for dinners and drinks, and we just felt like we hit the jackpot finding a long-lost cousin who fit in so well with us,” she said.

Nicho always went out of his way to make sure his younger female cousins got home safely, she said.

Nicole Scown said her close friend was a loving man who brought light and joy to those around him.

“He made me laugh until I cried and my stomach ached, and those moments will stay with me forever,” Scown said.

“He was smart, talented and endlessly creative – a gifted artist and writer with a mind that saw the world in colour and depth.

“Nicho was, and always will be, so special to me. I’ll hold him close to my heart, always.”

Cassie Yendall was a friend of Muggleton at school and told The Age the community was in shock at his passing.

“He was an amazing person, lived life to the fullest, loved surfing and snowboarding and would do anything for anyone, which I think that shows, after trying to save his mate,” Yendall said.

Last week, Detective Inspector Melissa Nixon said Muggleton and his friend’s deaths were tragic and preventable.

“The weather conditions ... obviously were not appropriate to be in the water surfing, whether you are experienced or you’re not experienced.”

Also on Thursday, Life Saving Victoria executive adviser Paul Shannon said people needed to be aware of their limitations around water, even when attempting a rescue.

“Risking your own life can turn one catastrophe into two or three,” he said.

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