Surf: 0 times
WARNING: SURF INJURY
Poor bloody Simon!
Peter, Simon, Tony and myself went for a surf at North Steyne tonight. It was Simon’s first time and the waves were mostly average, with the occasional biggie.
We paddled out and around for 30 minutes looking for the ideal spot, but the surf seemed weird, peaking and then running for a short distance before dying out. Peter said it was because there was shallow water running into deeper water then shallow again.
We were having fun chatting, but I could really feel my ribcage hurt as I paddled – arching your back to paddle and putting all your weight on the lower cage/stomach is what does it.
Anyway, the waves started to get bigger and Simon was behind me as I got hit and pushed back.
I felt the board hit something and looked around to see Simon clutching his right upper arm. His wetsuit had been torn open by my fin and he said he had a gash that was showing "white stuff". I was too far away to see any gory detail. Not good at all.
My immediate urge was to keep surfing, but as we all talked it soon became apparent that Simon needed stitches. End of surf.
We struggled to get in and Peter talked to someone at the Manly Surf School about where to take Simon – Warringah Mall Medical Centre. So off we went as an electrical storm approached, shooting massive bolts down to Earth – a portent too late.
Simon, it turned out, was fine. He only needed four stitches and as an added bonus I think we all grew a little closer because a sense of camaraderie was established.
