An almost drowning, a true story in sincere tribute.
You get sewpt away and try to swim and that wears you out.
The first 20 minutes were critical depending upon how long he was in there before.
As you wear out, you slowly start going under.
You push yourself back up to the surface and go under again. Up and down, up and down. You think a thousand thoughts and try not to panic.
The surface gets harder to reach each time you come up, you really have to struggle. Every inch of your strength, take a few breaths, spit water out. Heart rate off the scale.
I played water polo for 6 years, made the zone carnivals for swimming, I could dog-paddle for an hour easily and cut up 800m freestyle without stopping.
But the sea didnt care about all that. I was rescued by a lone surfer out of nowhere. I maybe had a few minutes left, but I felt my days were over. I didnt want to die like that. I prayed and of all the prayers I have made, this was the most important one and gladly, it was answered.
15 minutes seems like an hour because the forces are unrelenting.
He would have gone under at some stage and not have been able to struggle back up.
It would have been dark and I can assure you, very very lonley. It still scares me to think about it.
Ive read a book that says that eventually you black out, you breathe in water but your reflexes stop you from drinking too much of it.
This is a nightmare.
I bet he didnt go without a hell of a fight. I bet he was courageous. I was just lucky.
I still ended up in hospital that night with a complication.
All these swimmers at the beach, they need to respect the surf.
Even as I write, someone is probably drowning at a beach somehwere.
Poor kid, terrible news for anybody with a modicum of love and respect, not just our league family.
I hope we get tougher about these things for peoples own good. Like we do with seatbelts.
Support your lifesavers guys. Always slip them a few bucks when they ask.
God bless his soul and take him into your arms.
My heart goes out to his family and friends.
te tai aparagngi e ano ngaueue toa
(The seas evil spirit will not shake courage)
