Surfer thanks rescuers who plucked him from Rest Bay

Feb 28 2008 by Matthew Aplin, South Wales Echo

A SURFER swept towards cliffs by monster waves said today he would have drowned if it hadn’t been for the lifeboat crew who saved him.

Jon Hibbert, 28, of Roath, Cardiff, was dragged towards rocky waters near cliffs at Rest Bay, Porthcawl.

As he today thanked those who rescued him, he said: “I have no doubt in my mind that if it wasn’t for the speed and bravery of the guys in the lifeboat and those on the cliff who saw me, I would have drowned.”

Keen surfer Jon and his friend drove down to Rest Bay for a leisurely surf, on Sunday afternoon. But hours later Jon would be stranded and alone at sea with nightfall approaching.

Soon after they hit the water, he and his friend, who was an inexperienced surfer, got separated.

“We thought there would be waves of about 3ft but they were two or three times the size of that,” he said. “I didn’t have my leash with me so I used a roof rack strap off my car. That was a big mistake but I just didn’t think of it at the time. It was quite irresponsible because I couldn’t control the board so it was like a torpedo.”

As Jon fought with the currents he was dragged further away from the bay and towards rocky cliffs.

He said: “I didn’t want to admit defeat but I just thought that was it – I was going to drown.”

He frantically looked for help.

He said: “I saw two people on the cliffs so I screamed at them. I saw one of them run off and then a crowd started to gather there.

“I didn’t know if they were going to take me seriously. My heart was in my mouth every time a wave came. Luckily, they had called Porthcawl Coastguard.

“They shot a flare out and I saw them waving. I looked over and saw the lifeboat and they came and rescued me. It only took them about 20 minutes. They were so quick.

“When we arrived all the lifeboatmen’s families and babies were there waiting for them. I think I disturbed their Sunday dinners!

“If I had got swept off my board I know that I would’ve drowned. I’m so grateful to the rescuers. It was getting dark and it could’ve taken them hours to find me in a black swim suit.

“I have no doubt in my mind that if it wasn’t for the speed and bravery of the guys in the lifeboat and those on the cliff who saw me, I would have died.

“I class myself as a good surfer and have surfed all over the world, but that day I made some mistakes that nearly cost me my life.”

matthew.aplin@mediawales.co.uk