‘Their hands were up, screaming’: Dylan Efron saved drowning women in Miami Beach

On a Thursday afternoon in April 2025, Dylan Efron, the younger brother of actor Zac Efron and a social media influencer, found himself unexpectedly stepping into the role of a real-life hero at South Beach in Miami. During his very first visit to the famous beach, Efron saw a frightening scene play out in the ocean.

As Efron described in the Brooke & Connor Make a Podcast, several women were in trouble in the water, their shouts for help ringing out along the shore. Efron was visiting South Beach with friends, including his “Traitors” co-star Sam Asghari and another friend named Brennon. As they walked along the beach, they noticed a group of five women who seemed to be in serious distress.

The women were waving their arms frantically, calling for help, while other beachgoers watched nervously. At first, Efron wondered if a shark might be the cause, but he soon realized the real problem was the powerful rip current pulling the women away from shore.

Zac Efron’s brother Dylan, saves two women at the Miami beach

Seeing the danger and noticing that no lifeguards were nearby, Efron and Brennon immediately jumped into action. Two of the women were closer to the shore and already being helped by someone else, but three others were farther out and in much greater danger. Efron, who is a strong swimmer, didn’t hesitate as he rushed into the rough water.

He fought against the strong currents, swimming out to reach the struggling women. He rescued one woman, brought her back to shore, and then went out again to save another. The final rescue was especially emotional. Efron spent a long time comforting the woman, who was exhausted and terrified, holding her in a reassuring hug until she had calmed down and was safe. Afterward, they simply walked away. The woman he saved was so grateful that she couldn’t even speak.

After the rescues, beach officials told everyone in the water to come back to shore. The situation ended without any further trouble. Officials later confirmed that the strong current was the reason the women had been struggling. While the scene had caused a lot of alarm at first, things settled down once the women were safely on the beach. Efron’s actions were completely spontaneous, driven by a strong sense of duty and a quick understanding of the danger.

Even though his heroic act wasn’t widely noticed at first, word of Efron’s rescue soon spread. This surprised Efron since he hadn’t shared the story publicly. One of the first people to reach out to him was his agent, who was both concerned and relieved after hearing what had happened.