Aggie Auelua farewelled as hero

Aggie Auelua farewelled as hero

Friends and relatives of Kiwi woman Aggie Auelua have attended a memorial service at the spot where she lost her life trying to save a nine-year-old boy.

The Fingal Surf Life Saving Club in northern New South Wales hosted the ceremony eight days after the 25-year-old died. The boy was saved, and she has been labelled a hero.

Many relatives had only just flown in from New Zealand to pay tribute to Ms Auelua. They were joined on the beach by members of the tightknit Fingal community.

Wearing tee-shirts with the words "our hero Aggie", they paid tribute to a young woman who they said was full of life and always selfless.

Some family members were inconsolable during the simple ceremony, but they were touched to meet the people involved in the rescue.

Wreaths were laid on a rescue board that the surf lifesaving club says will always bear Ms Auelua's name.

The family had hoped to take Ms Auelua's body back to New Zealand, but that won't happen so they say this was a fitting tribute.

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