www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=344801215536246&set=a.174524425897260.50026.124555827560787&type=1&theater
^^^found that on facebook, ben wilson yesterday at coolum

I was kiting at Coolum for a few hrs with my son and there were two other guys out briefly for about 5 mins when we first started, but they came back to shore. Towards the end of our session two lifesavers went out for a play on their jet ski in the same area where we were kiting, they then went out the back and disappeared.
Meanwhile we landed our Kites and finished up....... we then witnessed the two life savers being winched to safety by the westpac chopper from their jet ski which had been swamped out the back
They were both brought to shore one by one.
We did not witness any kiters in trouble or being rescued and brought back to shore, only the lifesavers.....We were kiting conservatively to the conditions.....but why ruin a good story.......another case of kiter bashing maybe.

isnt it a better story when 2 lifesavers lives have to be saved by other lifesavers?

Interestingly, they've completely rewritten the story that was on that link and now removed the reference to the kitesurfer rescue...That link above now autoredirects to this one:

www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/weather/thousands-flock-to-beaches-despite-closures-20111226-1p9xs.html

HI Rob Was that you on the orange kite ? I saw you as we left on our downwinder, I was on a black rpm an my mate was on a browny F one, that was a serious seshion with some epic triple overhead waves,I was having the time of my life untill I tripped over a two foot high bit of chop right out the very back an stuffed up....u get that every now an then tho hey !

robpud said...

I was kiting at Coolum for a few hrs with my son and there were two other guys out briefly for about 5 mins when we first started, but they came back to shore. Towards the end of our session two lifesavers went out for a play on their jet ski in the same area where we were kiting, they then went out the back and disappeared.
Meanwhile we landed our Kites and finished up....... we then witnessed the two life savers being winched to safety by the westpac chopper from their jet ski which had been swamped out the back
They were both brought to shore one by one.
We did not witness any kiters in trouble or being rescued and brought back to shore, only the lifesavers.....We were kiting conservatively to the conditions.....but why ruin a good story.......another case of kiter bashing maybe.

robpud said...

I was kiting at Coolum for a few hrs with my son and there were two other guys out briefly for about 5 mins when we first started, but they came back to shore. Towards the end of our session two lifesavers went out for a play on their jet ski in the same area where we were kiting, they then went out the back and disappeared.

Just to clarify, us two other guys didn't actually come back two shore, but did a downwinder and maybe the lifesavers thought one of us was swept out to sea because they didnt see us again,maybe they went out the back looking to see if someone was in trouble or not,I will have a chat with them an find out because I am curious now !
Mate of mine was on the beach an he said when i was out the back he could hardly see me,so I can see why lifesavers might have thought someone was in trouble.
20/30 SE forcast today an remants of the swell

Blownaway said...

I was actually the kite surfer in Question I dropped my kite out the back an it popped the deflate valve an I had to swim in, i did not get rescued,it was all good....aprt from a good flogging a mission of a swim an a serious hold down!
aparantly the clubbies where alerted by concerned onlookers, A jetski came along about 10 mins after I had self rescued.This happened around pergian on a downwinder from cooum.Another paper reported kitesurfer swept out to sea at peregian....These reporters never let the truth get in the way of a good story like mr float said..!!

Blownaway the human fish! i swear you got gills,

You up on the Sunnycoast Benny,

.be

Here's a link to a youtube slideshow of the incident