Italian swimming star Filippo Magnini saves newlywed from drowning

If you are planning to go venture into deep sea waters, make sure you have an Olympic swimming champion around. A newlywed tourist, named Andrea Benedetto, was swimming off Sardinian beach but the man ventured too far out of his depth and started drowning.

However, he was lucky to have Italian swimmer Filippo Magnini nearby, who jumped in to save his life. The former Olympic medallist got alerted after friends of Benedetto shouted for help. Wasting no time, the swimmer dived in and kept his head above the water until rescue team arrived.

Just two days ago, Benedetto had married his boyfriend in Caligiri and the couple was floating on an inflatable unicorn. A strong wind blew his inflatable away and he was left to struggle in the unexpectedly cold water.

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Friends of the couple started shouting for the help and their cries were heard by lifeguards. However, the 37-year-old retired sportsman, who was swimming nearby with his girlfriend Giorgia Palmas, was nearby and quickly reached to help the drowning man.

"I did what I felt I should do," Magnini said. "Swim as fast as I could to save him. The important thing is the swimmer is safe," he added.

The man was quickly rushed to the hospital. “A few hours after the accident I was at the hospital when I realised that Filippo Magnini was the man who saved my life, but I didn't have any chance to thank him as I have no contact with him. I hope to be able to thank him in person,” Benedetto said.