Teenager Corey Warburton's name sounds a lot like that of infamous teen Corey Worthington, and his own mother admits he's a ``wild'' looking prankster who wears his cap backwards.
But six months after Corey Worthington tainted the reputation of teenagers after throwing a wild party at his parents' house, 14-year-old Corey Warburton leapt off a bridge into an icy cold river and rescued an elderly woman who was floating face down.
The year nine student, from South Grafton, in northern NSW, was walking across the Grafton Bridge at Grafton about 11am on Monday - the last day of his school holidays - when he was spurred to action.
``I was going for a skate and I came across this jumper folded, and it had a note on it and some glasses on top,'' he said.
``The note said something like `Sorry. I can't take it anymore' and had a name on it.''
Corey looked down and, 20 metres below ( twice the height of Olympic high divers' platforms), saw a 70-year-old woman floating face down in the Clarence River.
``I thought she was dead because she wasn't moving but then she moved her hand to her face ... it was off with me shirt and shoes, I called out for help and then dove over, which probably wasn't the smartest idea.''
After the huge leap into the water (Corey says he's jumped from the bridge a few times before), Corey surfaced a few metres from the woman and about 80 metres from the river bank.
Asked how cold the water was, he said: ``You've got no idea.''
``The woman was half unconscious, she said to help her.
``I was just trying to keep her head out of water - she kept going under and whenever she did, I went under too so I had to try and pull myself and her back to the surface again... it was fairly hard.''
Still wearing his jeans, Corey said it took him about half an hour, kicking with all his might, to swim towards the river bank while holding the woman afloat.
As he neared the bank, a 16-year-old boy waded into the water to help pull the woman from the water, but they became caught in thick reeds in the river.
Police eventually arrived, cleared the reeds, and helped all three to shore.
The woman was taken to Grafton Base Hospital in a serious condition, an ambulance spokeswoman said. Police said she was expected to make a full recovery.
``One of [the police officers] came up and hugged me, which was a little odd at the time,'' Corey told 2UE.
``He called me a bloody hero and asked the other coppers to do something special for me.''
Despite the incredible rescue, Corey continued to the skate park as though nothing had happened. When he got home, his mother Stefani at first did not believe his story.
``I thought it was a joke at first because he's a bit of a prankster,'' Mrs Warburton said.
The family have been astounded by the interest Corey's actions have generated.
``I'm a bit floored ... [by the media interest],'' Mrs Warburton said. ``We're just a typical little family in a little country town.''
At school yesterday, many of Corey's friends came to work brandishing the local newspaper's coverage of his deeds, and have been calling him ``hero''.
``It's been pretty crazy , I've been ambushed going down the street, people coming up trying to shake my hand and going `congratulations','' he said.
But the attention has not affected her son, Mrs Warburton said.
``Corey is just Corey - I'm getting a headache [from all the attention] and he's just walking around going `what's all the fuss about?'''
While his actions were far removed from the other teen Corey, on appearances he often create a similar impression.
``Corey's a little bit of a wild looking character, with his cap turned backwards, wild hair, and wearing skate gear ... most people think he's a larrikin but he's just got a heart of gold,'' said Mrs Warburton.
``Most people are saying that most kids wouldn't do [what Corey did] but I think kids don't get enough credit.''
After growing up in the shadow of his older brother Ben, who has excelled at sports, Mrs Warburton felt the attention might boost Corey's self-esteem.
Corey said the event had not changed him much, and he still planned to complete year 10 next year, and try to get a trade apprenticeship.
In the meantime, he would continue to enjoy his hobbies, which included skating and breakdancing, he said.
He said the last day of his school holidays had been the most exciting, perhaps ever.
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