Southern View: January 20, 2022

Thursday January 20 2022 3
Lifeboat rescue ‘like a scary movie’
• By Kristie Boland
AFTER BEING stranded for
two hours, unable to swim or
hear, Natalie Crowther was
“so thankful” for the Sumner
Lifeboat crew – and her life
jacket.
Natalie, 27, of St Martins, and
her partner Mathew, 28, paddled
on a one-person kayak to a
cave between Scarborough and
Taylors Mistake about 6pm on
Monday.
The only way to get to their
secluded destination spot was to
swim or by small boat.
While Mathew went diving for
an hour, Natalie sat on the rocks
watching the conditions change
and the sea turn rough.
When Mathew resurfaced,
they decided it was time to go
and tried to get back on the
kayak together.
“I tried to get on the kayak but
it was too rough . . . the waves
kept rolling over it and I kept
falling in the water,” Natalie
said.
A wave pushing her onto
the rocks left Natalie with a
swollen leg and after many
unsuccessful attempts of getting
on the kayak, she realised she
was in trouble.
There was no cellphone reception,
so Mathew kayaked to find
help while Natalie waited on the
rocks.
Natalie can’t swim due to being
unable to lift her left arm at a
RELIEF: The Sumner Lifeboat team that rescued Natalie. (Back row, left to right) – Patrice de Beer, Anthony Honeybone
(skipper), Niels de Beer. (Front) – Ellie Honeybone, Natalie Crowther​. (Right) – Mathew and the kayak the couple used to get
to the cave.
right angle. She also has trouble
hearing and wears a cochlear
implant.
With her cochlear implant left
in the car, and wet hearing aids,
she couldn’t hear anything.
“I’m 27, and all I was
thinking was: ‘I want my
mum,’ I’m a bit of a hopeless
case, I can’t hear anything and I
can’t swim.”
Natalie was stranded alone for
90min.
“It was really scary having to
sit there . . . it was almost like a
scary movie,” she said.
“It was just that feeling
of isolation and knowing I
can’t swim back, there was like
no way I could get anyone to
come get me.”
Once Sumner Lifeboat was notified
at 7.55pm, with Mathew’s
directions, they were able locate
Natalie.
Without her hearing aids,
communication was hard but
two crew members were able
to assist Natalie to swim to the
rescue vessel and she was then
taken to Sumner Lifeboat’s base.
“They were great, they kept me
warm, we had some good yarns,”
Natalie said.
The medics checked her
over. Apart from some bruises,
Natalie was okay.
“I really appreciate the life
boating team. It would have been
way worse without them.”
On avoiding incidents such
as these, Sumner Lifeboat crew
member Howard Nicholls said:
“Plan your trip, consider the
hazards . . . and try to stay within
your limits. Conditions can
quickly change . . . tell someone
where you are going and your
ETA.”
The one positive to come out of
the experience Natalie said, was
while he was diving, Mathew
caught two crayfish.
“I got home and told mum
we got two crayfish. But there’s
more …”
I live it, I love it, I sell it!
We are now represented in the
St Martins area by a local resident!
Bridging the gap between
Fashion & Function
• Superior Marketing
• Local knowledge and experience
• Our fees are only 2.95% up to $490,000
thereafter 1.95% + admin fee + gst.
Jo Warren
027 634 6738
jo.warren@mikepero.com
Mike Pero Real Estate Ltd Licensed REAA (2008)
Trendy range of styles and colours, polarised.
* Includes cloth & neck strap with case
BARRINGTON, 256 Barrington Street
PH 332 1730 | www.suckling.co.nz
COOL HAIRCUTS
FOR THe KIDS!
Make sure your children are looking their best for school
All our stylists are fully qualified
OPEN 7 DAYS
NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY
South City P: 366 0619
Bush Inn Shopping Centre
P: 348 7008
EVERY 8TH
HAIRCUT
IS FREE!
(With your
loyalty card)