Hugh Jackman helps rescue swimmers caught in rip tide

Hollywood star Hugh Jackman has been praised for helping his children and other swimmers who got caught in a rip tide.

Footage aired in Australia appeared to show the X-Men actor helping other swimmers from the water at Bondi Beach on Saturday.

His children - 10-year-old Ava and 15-year-old Oscar - were among those in the water at the time, with lifeguards and Jackman helping pull those struggling back to safety.

The North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club thanked the 47 year old for his efforts in an Instagram post.

It said: "The beach had to be closed due to dangerous conditions, multiple rescues happening all at once and limited resources. @thehughjackman was also spotted assisting with rescues! Thanks Hugh."

The beach was closed after the rescues because of the dangerous conditions.

Swimmer Peter Adam told Australia's Nine News: "His daughter was struggling to get on to the sand bar so I reached down, grabbed her arm and put my arm up to Hugh to make a chain to pull us up on the sand bar."