A well-known Bellambi surfer has died while surfing Sandon Point during yesterday’s solid swell.
65-year-old Colin ‘Colza’ Hunter was found floating facedown in the lineup.
Surfers who came to his aid battled the swell and the notorious Sandon Point rocks to bring him to shore so resuscitation efforts could begin. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of his rescuers, including off-duty lifeguards, they were unsuccessful.
Local surfer Peter Peck told the Illawarra Mercury, “Colza was a bit of an icon. He was always at the beach. Growing up as a kid you’d see him out in the surf. He’s just one of those blokes you always watched.”
Daren Weidner, duty officer of Surf Life Saving Illawarra also told the Mercury that those who assisted during the attempted rescue did “A fantastic job in a pretty traumatic situation. They brought him to shore across the rocks in quite difficult conditions.
At this stage a heart attack is believed to be the culprit.
