Three inexperienced Dunedin surfers had a close call yesterday after getting caught in a rip and being sucked out to sea.
The University of Otago students had to be rescued after getting into trouble off Smaills Beach, Dunedin, about 9.45am.
One of the trio managed to scramble on to rocks after drifting back into shore before traversing the rocky headland and raising the alarm about 10.05am.
The other two surfers were in the water for about 30 minutes before scrambling on to a large rock off Maori Head and waiting about an hour and a-half for rescue.
Police and Marine Search and Rescue staff at the beach called in the Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter as the 3m-4m swells and the strong current were too dangerous for an inflatable rescue boat.
The men scrambled into the helicopter while it hovered close to the rocks.
They were shaken but unhurt and thankful to be alive.
The rescued men did not know the fate of friend Max Richard (21), of Maine, who raised the alarm, until they got off the helicopter.
"We were really worried because we saw his board wash up broken,'' Tahu Nikora (20), of Dunedin, said.
He embraced Mr Richard after seeing him alive and unscathed.
"It was my fault. I shouldn't have taken them in there,'' Mr Nikora said.
He had taken university exchange students Theo Montel (20), of Sweden, and Mr Richard surfing at Aramoana on Wednesday and planned to surf again yesterday.
"We got lucky,'' Mr Montel said.
Mr Richard said he did not see his friends for a "long time'', so he called emergency services.
"We just don't know the area. We didn't know how dangerous it was.''
Senior Constable Nick Wells, of Dunedin, said the way the current was running, the men were "never going to end up anywhere else'' but on the rocks.
"It's not a good beach for surfers. It's not a beach for learners.''
The men had "done everything right'' when they got into trouble but it was important to know the conditions and safe areas to surf before entering the ocean, he added.
