the other side of being rescued

[oldmansurfer]

I just saw this and it seems pretty good about Pipeline but it applies for elsewhere http://www.surfingmaster.net/2015/07/mistakes-made-in-statement-of-surf-in.html

[IB_Surfer]

Last March ta Cerritos (Todos Santos, Baja California, Mexico, near Cabo) my leash broke after a massive set blindsided the lineup. There where two other surfers who's leashes broke, but I was the one farthest out.

The rip was so bad I paddled for 25 minutes and made no ground, paddled sideways and ended up near some rocks. Since the rocks where the closest place to the shore I kept back stroking towards them, knowing that a broken something awaited me but it was better than drowning.

Luckily, a couple of surfers saw me struggling and got longboards and paddled out to rescue me, I swear I almost cried when they paddled up on me.

I never got their names, and was too exhausted to find them, went to my car and passed out. I hope to play it forward, I have rescued a few adults and kids over the years and think it's karma, one time similar to my event but in baja near some rocks,, so will continue to look out for stranded newbies and swimmers every times I paddle out.

Yes, after 20 years of surfing it can happen to anyone..,

[BaNZ]

I once saw a girl trying to get out at typhoon waves. The rips and white wash was incredibly strong that day and I was waiting for it to clear up a bit before I go in. She got into the water and just struggled to get past the white wash. Within about 30 seconds she got taken by the rip 50m to the places where there are sharp big rocks and boulders. I just stood there and watch as I know I will struggle if I get in the water, I shouted at the other guys and luckily his bf ran towards her and saved her. They were both caught in the shore dump and struggled to get out the water but eventually ditched the board and got into safety.

Then also a few times at typhoon waves where I struggled to get out and the surf shops rented foamies and they drowned. Those 3 months in typhoon season, I must have seen roughly 6-8 people drowning. Roughly 1 die every other week and we also had 4 die in a day cos they went in to save them.

[oldmansurfer]

Last year we were having a lot of drownings but this year it's down a bit. The big take home from that video is if you are at a beach you aren't familiar with go talk to the lifeguards before you go out so they can warn you of the common mistakes. I haven't ever needed rescue but been in the ocean since I was a baby. No one has drowned while I was at the beach. I have gone surfing a couple times at a beach where someone drowned earlier and people have drowned after I left the beach but so far not while I was there.