Injury shows Possos can be point danger

A GRUESOME surf injury that resulted in 13 head staples has left Penny Andrews shaken, angry and calling for surfers to follow the rules.

“I’ve surfed at Point Impossible (Possos) for a couple of years and in that time I’ve had a couple of similar run-ins where someone has taken off on a wave when you’re right in front of them,” Ms Andrews said.

“There’s often people who will drop in or snake (when someone comes in behind you) when you’re already on the wave. I’ve notice over the last 12 months there’s been a big change especially during the holidays, it’s really busy and a lot of disrespectful people are out in the water.”

Two weekends ago, Ms Andrews was hit by another surfer while in the water at the point break.

“I could see his face, its unusual behaviour as 99 out of 100 others wouldn’t take off if there’s someone right in front of them but he did,” she said.

“I Eskimo rolled but he’s hit my arm at full force and my head, the doctors said my arm has stopped
him from fracturing my skull. It was a fight or flight moment.”

Ms Andrews was able to get out of the water with assistance where friends administered first aid until her brother, a paramedic, took her to the hospital for treatment and a CT scan.

“The worst thing is I confronted the person who did this and he was not apologetic, he didn’t think he’d done anything wrong or apologise. I was covered in blood and showed him my injury and he was so defensive,” she said.

At only 50 kilos and 160cm tall, Ms Andrews said for a man close to six foot and 100 kilos to have hit her with full force, she’s grateful to walk away with only staples.

“Everyone that goes out to surf should know the rules, if you don’t there’s a rule book online at Surfing Victoria, or you can ask other surfers or surf clubs,” she said.

“They should know the rules and if they don’t, they shouldn’t be in the water.”