FOUR local surfers put their own lives at risk on Saturday morning when they went to the aid of the victims of the boat that overturned on the Camden Haven bar.
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Sadly a 66-year-old Bathurst man died at the scene, but it was the quick thinking and heroic efforts of the surfers that prevented further fatalities.
Sean Cumming and Kyle Jones were enjoying the expected large swells when tragedy struck, and both surfers witnessed the events unfold.
"We were in the water surfing and we watched them try and come through the bar," Sean said. "They panicked at the wrong time and tried to turn but a wave hit them.
"Before you knew it the boat just flipped and we watched them flying out into the water.
"We shot across the bar, we were paddling as fast as we could."
Sean said one of the men was holding onto the capsized boat before making his way to the breakwall.
"We saw him clambering up on the breakwall and we thought he was safe," he said. "So we went and got the girl. When we got to them, they kept saying take us to the rocks.
"We knew that wasn't a good idea, so we told them to calm down and we took the young girl into the beach."
The good samaritans then put their lives at risk again by returning the water to rescue the girl's grandfather.
"He was a bit heavier and he had busted his shoulder so we decided to float down along the breakwall about three-quarters of the way to Point Perpendicular."
Unfortunately the other man died at the scene.
Two other surfers assisted in the rescue but were too shaken to speak.
The Sean and Kyle were also visibly shaken by the incident but hoped the message would get out to other boaters not to risk it.
"We sort of hope that if it were us, someone would do the same thing," Sean said. "If we had been a minute later they would have ended up on the rocks and it could have ended a lot worse.
"It's not a good thing to see something like that that. It doesn't sit well in your head and I don't feel well when I think about it."
Both said others should think twice before heading out especially during rough seas.
"Maybe Marine Rescue can enforce a rule that no one can go out when the swell goes past a certain size."
Marine Rescue Camden Haven, Camden Haven Surf Lifesaving and Surf Lifesaving Mid-North Coast assisted with the rescue.
Incident coordinator for Surf Lifesaving Mid North Coast, Ryan Rosenbaum, admitted things could have been much worse if it wasn't for the heroic actions of the surfers.
"Sadly one man lost his life but it could have been much worse if it wasn't for those guys," he said.
Mr Rosenbaum said it was this type of situation that has lead to surf lifesaving teaming up with Surfing NSW recently.
"Surfers are the ones out there, they are the ones on the spot when things go wrong," he said. "That's why we've teamed up with Surfing NSW to teach surfers rescue techniques."
A Camden Haven Marine Rescue spokesman declined to comment about the incident but he did praise the efforts of the surfers involved.
"They helped us greatly," the spokesman said.
The Bathurst man died at the scene but the other two involved, a 12-year-old girl and a 62-year-old man, both from North Haven, were taken to Port Macquarie Base Hospital and were released a short time later.
Please support those involved in the rescue, the survivors and their families, also the family of the deceased. Rally, make sure they're ok, help them talk it through, make sure they have support/counselling and love. For guidance or to receive counselling contact Lifeline - 13 11 14, MensLine 1300 78 99 78, beyondblue 1300 22 46 36, Kids Helpline 1800 55 18 00.
