The family of a pensioner caught in rogue waves while fishing near the mouth of Ōtaki River on the Kapiti Coast have reached out to thank the rescuers who saved his life.
John Schofield, who is in his 70s, was laying face down in the water after apparently being knocked down by heavy swells on Friday.
Kitesurfer Ramon Glauser was out with two other friends but they had packed up and he was taking one final run when people on the beach alerted him to someone in the water.
"As I got to him he was lifeless, pretty much eyes open but not moving. No attempt to move and couldn't move, no swimming. Once I dragged him to the beach I saw he had gumboots. That would have absolutely killed his energy."
"I essentially used the kite to keep me up and afloat and grabbed him and dragged him to the beach, and kept saying, 'are you ok?, are you ok?' but there were no words, no hand movements, no kicking. Nothing. I could see he was alive but I think within seconds, I believe, or a minute, he would have drowned.''
Schofield then responded to Glauser, "what a nightmare".
"I grabbed his hand to make sure he had some power and there was some movement there."
Glauser kitesurfed across to a fisher and her friend and asked them for help. The fisher, 28-year-old Janelle Adams, told Checkpoint she ran to her truck to find a blanket.
"I got my phone, grabbed my blanket that I carry in my truck and just ran as fast as I could right around the edge of the river to get to him. It took about five or six minutes to get there and I was screaming at the ambulance while running."
However, Adams said she was slowed down by her choice of footwear.
John Schofield was laying face down in the water after apparently being knocked down by heavy swells. Photo: Supplied / Janelle Adams
"I was on the rocks with my not appropriate shoes. They were Crocs. I was running through rocks and driftwood."
Once she reached Schofield, she wrapped him in her blanket, which had been used for rescues of other kinds.
"I have rescued cats and stuff with it. It's got a few memories."
She said the waves were particularly rough, tangling her line and sweeping away her friend's things. The wild weather also claimed a few of Schofield's belongings during the rescue.
"He lost his glasses and he kept asking me where they had gone. And I said, John, I'm sorry, but I think they're definitely gone. One of the fish are probably wearing them.
"I was just trying to keep him happy and make sure that we were getting help. So we kept positive."
A police spokesperson told Checkpoint that Schofield was picked up by a rescue helicopter and airlifted to Wellington Hospital after sustaining serious injuries.
Adams said she was grateful to be there to help at the right moment.
"It was emotional for me too. Just knowing that the worst could have happened, but it didn't, so I was grateful.
"The kite surfer did a really good job I reckon, just to be able to help him get to shore. If I wasn't there, I wouldn't been able to do what I've done. I guess if no one had found them, there would have been worse situation."
Adams has checked up on Schofield and his family every other day since the rescue to keep up to date with how he's doing.
"He's pretty grateful we're going to catch up, probably in a couple in the next couple of weeks for lunch."
Schofield's daughter said he extended his thanks to all those who helped rescue him.
"He is so grateful beyond words for all of their help. He in due course is hoping to be meeting up with them all personally when well enough.''
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