It’s not just the surfers that win the most competitions, land the most impressive airs, or charge the biggest waves that should be celebrated. It’s also the ‘everyday’ surfers. Those ‘everyday’ surfers, who do extraordinary things.
In January this year, two Cape Town surfers put their own lives on the line at Noordhoek beach to save a fellow waverider, and this week, surfers Nic Bothma and Abdurahman Farat received letters of honour and appreciation from the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) for their instrumental role in saving legal secretary and bodyboarder, Nazley Davids.
Abdurahman Farat, Nazley Davids and Nic Bothma. The men, both hobby surfers, were honoured by the NSRI for paddling out to save Davids from a rip current. Image sourced: www.news24.com © NSRI
On the 2nd of January this year, Davids was swept out to sea by a relentless rip current. It was reported that an anonymous Port Elizabeth man found Davids’ bodyboard washed up on the beach and rushed to nearby surfer and photographer, Nic Bothma, for help.
Bothma made contact with Davids’ family, telling them to call the NSRI. He then swam out in search of Davids. Surfer and auditing clerk, Abdurahman Farat, was also in the surf nearby and Bothma called to him for help. The two recreational surfers set out to find Davids, who was by now far beyond back-line and completely out of sight.
Eventually, Davids was spotted, despite the late afternoon glare and treacherous rip. The two surfers took turns paddling her in on Farat’s board when an NSRI boat caught up with them and got Davids out of the water.
“There’s also a lesson to be learnt, and that is to never give up and try not to panic when facing a similar life-threatening situation,” Davids told News24. “I’ve been given a second chance. I’m very grateful to the Almighty for it,” she said.
These are the types of surfers we also aspire to be. The ones who show bravery, selflessness and dedication to their fellow human beings, without expectation of recognition or reward. Big ups to Nazley Davids, Abdurahman Farat, Nic Bothma and the NSRI team for not giving up.
And bigs up to all the men and women, doing small and insurmountable, acts of kindness for others in and out the surf, everyday.
You are the true heros and heroines… even when no one sees. Viva! Image © Creative Commons
Sea Rescue is the charity that saves lives on South African waters. The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is run by over 1 000 highly skilled, unpaid volunteers who are on standby day and night throughout the year. Donations and sponsorships cover their annual running cost of R73.4m. Dial 112 from your cellphone to contact the NSRI in an ocean emergency. Read the full epic story on www.news24.com
*Lead Image © Nic Bothma / Rebel Sessions. Caption: One of SA’s most respected big wave surf photographers, Nic Bothma has seen his fair share of heavy situations in the water. Which might explain his readiness to jump to the rescue! Featured riders in this image are Josh Redman (diving) and Frank Solomon (cruising) at Dungeons.
