A woman was rescued from a burning vehicle in New South Wales early on June 25, 2026, with assistance from Parramatta Eels head coach Jason Ryles.
Incident
According to multiple reports, the incident occurred shortly after midnight on Mount Ousley Road (referred to as New Mount Pleasant Road in one account) in Wollongong. A car had flipped onto its side, and a woman was standing inside the overturned vehicle. Smoke was coming from the car.
Ryles was driving home with his family following the Parramatta Eels' 32-12 loss to the South Sydney Rabbitohs. He noticed the overturned vehicle and parked away from the scene.
A bystander used a metal drink bottle (described as a "Yeti bottle" in one account) to break the rear window of the vehicle.
Ryles then pulled the woman out of the car. Reports indicate that approximately three minutes after the rescue, the car was fully engulfed in flames.
Condition of the Driver
The woman, reported to be in her 20s, was not physically injured but was in a state of shock. One source reported that Ryles described the situation as frightening but stated he acted to assist as anyone would.
Aftermath
Police at the scene commented on Ryles' earlier on-camera frustration during the match that had occurred hours prior.
Context
Earlier that evening, following the team's loss, Ryles expressed disappointment in his team's performance at a post-match press conference. According to a source, he stated the team "would have been flat out beating a park football side."