“I’ve Never Heard Anyone Pray So Hard”: 50-Year-Old Surfing Legend Braved Horrifying Currents in an Insane Rescue Act

Understanding the ocean’s ways is not everybody’s cup of tea. While some make it safely to the shore, others end up drowning in its infinity. However, some lucky few get rescued by the fortitude of those who know their way around the wavy pathway. Likewise, the 50-year-old surfing legend, Heather Clark, bravely paddled the big waves and extricated a man from the ferocious sea clutches.

South African surfer and World Masters champion, Heather Clark made many heads turn her way through her incredible surfing prompts. More so, the 50-year-old legend is the recipient of two gold medals in the World Masters Surfing championships in 2009 and 2010. Interestingly, Clark now mentors surfing enthusiasts at KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. However, recently, while she was hosting a surf lesson at St. Mike’s beach, a man got stuck in the middle of a notorious wave current. To save him, Clark put her life-saving skills in tow and courageously paddled in the stomping water.

Heather Clark’s courageous surfing feat

As per the report of South Coast Herald, on Monday 20th February, a swimmer at St. Mike’s beach was caught in a high-intensity water current. Following this, Clark took her surfboard and rushed toward the struggling man. She stated, “He was about a meter in front of me when I saw him go under the water”. If he was drowning, then how did she save the man?

Fortunately, as the surfer reached the man’s proximity, “his head, luckily popped up again”. The 2x World Masters champion then pushed her board in the direction of the swimmer and “he clung on” to it. Mentioning the pleas the man was making, Clark asserted, “I’ve never heard anyone pray so hard”.

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Other lifeguards also managed to speed toward Clark to help her in bringing the man to the safety of the shore. However, the swimmer had ‘frozen’ onto Clark’s surfboard and the guards were not able to loosen his grip. Henceforth, the 50-year-old’s lifesaving team decided to take him to the beach on the board he got cohered to. Nonetheless, it is not the first time that Clark successfully carried out a rescue operation.

Clark’s majestic lifesaving finesse

Earlier this month, the 50-year-old visited Ugu Surfriders in South Africa for surfing trials. As Clark saw a little girl drowning in the sea, she jumped into the water in a reflex. With her sheer tenacity, the ISA world champion surfer managed to save the girl from the water current. 

Interestingly, the surfing legend is well-versed in rescue skills because she took her tutelage from the lifesaving club as a youngster. Be it a role of a surfer or a lifesaver, Heather Clark has marveled in every role she set her foot into. Now, as a mentor to many, the 50-year-old never shies away from testing her limits and doing the unthinkable. Clark has defied age and trounced every wave that came her way. She definitely knows her way around the salty reverie. 

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