Hugh Jackman in real-life Bondi Beach rescue

Hugh Jackman turned real life action hero as he came to the rescue of swimmers on Sydney's Bondi Beach. The actor and his 15-year-old son Oscar and his daughter Ava are also believed to have been caught in a riptide on Saturday (26 March) .

The Nine Network showed video of the Hollywood star helping to bring another swimmer to shore before he went back into the water to help pull his son out from the waves.

Australia's Nine News posted video of Jackman pulling the arm of a man who was holding onto a girl in the waters off the city's Bondi Beach. The man, who identified himself to the station as Peter Adam, said he was helping Jackman's daughter. "He wasn't rescuing me," Adam told the station. "I was assisting him to get his daughter up to the sandbar. He then grabbed my hand to get us up."

The station reports that the video also appears to show Jackman helping his 15-year-old son. The Wolverine star was then seen waving at other swimmers in the water warning them to come ashore, 9 News reported. Lifesavers then sprang into action using boards and jetskis to rescue other swimmers.

An eyewitness told The Sunday Telegraph the actor was calm throughout the ordeal. "He stopped and helped this bloke stand up and he also helped his son,' the witness said. "The swell was pretty nasty. It was a beautiful day but the swell was up."

Nine News said Jackman, 47, was too shaken to speak to TV crews after the incident, which resulted in the beach being closed for a short while. A spokesperson for Jackman confirmed the incident to ABC News, saying that it looked "more dramatic than it was."

The North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club turned to social media to thank the actor for his actions. Jackman was also hailed a real-life hero by his fans. "Hugh Jackman is the hero we all need," said one.

The Australian star recently returned home after a world tour promoting his new film, Eddie the Eagle.