Cricket legend Merv Hughes has confessed he didn't actually save Lord Ian Botham from crocodile-infested waters, despite basking in heroic praise for 15 months. The Australian fast bowler revealed he was fast asleep in his cabin when the England cricket great tumbled into the dangerous Moyle River in Northern Territory.
Hughes told The Telegraph he had no idea his mate was in trouble during their fishing trip. "We did go fishing, and Ian Botham did fall in the water," Hughes admitted. "But did I have anything to do with dragging him out? Not quite. I was asleep in my cabin. I found out about two hours later."
The incident occurred when Botham tripped on his flip-flops and plunged headfirst into waters known for crocodiles. Hughes joked about the false heroic narrative that followed, saying: "I should be knighted. I can't believe King Charles didn't give me a call."
Real heroes revealed
Three crew members actually saved Botham by quickly grabbing his shirt to prevent him being swept away. The real rescuers were keen fisherman Justin Jones, Northern Territory chamber of commerce chief executive Greg Ireland, and the on-board chef.
Hughes explained the genuine danger wasn't just crocodiles but the powerful tides. "What people don't realise are the tides - it's a nine-metre tide," he said. "If you go off the back of the boat, you're going to get swept away."
The Australian spotted a 4.5-metre crocodile just ten metres away during sunrise on the trip. When Botham had earlier commented about not seeing many crocodiles, Hughes warned: "Mate, it's not the crocs you see that are the problem."
Dangerous waters admission
Hughes admitted he wouldn't risk the treacherous waters even for family. When his son asked if he really dived in to save Botham, Hughes replied: "If my eldest child went in that river, I wouldn't dive in. You don't even dip your toe in the water up there."
Despite his brush with death and severely bruised torso, Botham caught a three-foot barramundi just hours after the incident. Hughes praised his friend's fishing skills, saying: "Some people get intimidated by big fish, but he just does it easily."
The confession ends Hughes' accidental hero status, though he remains happy to tell either the true story or "the fictitious one" where he dramatically rescued Botham from a crocodile's grasp.
Sources used: "The Telegraph", "Daily Star", "Daily Mail" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
