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On the NSW Illawarra coast at a beach named Hill 60, a warning sign starkly reminds potential rock fishermen of how deadly this popular pursuit can be.
Since 2021, the sign says, no fewer than five people have been swept to their deaths at this innocent looking rock platform.
Many are now calling for mandatory life jackets for all rock fishermen, but it's not just an Illawarra problem. All up and down our coastline we report such deaths, year after year.
These tragedies happen in a split second - often when a fisher turns his back and doesn't see that freak wave coming.
Earlier this month, I had the chance to talk to, in a sense, "the one that got away" and I felt strongly this was an experience worth sharing. Too often the person is not alive to give us their account.
Ben Davidson was fishing with a couple of mates at Tathra on the NSW Far South Coast on the morning of June 18, when a rogue wave crashed over him.
He was sent flying into the rocks, causing horrific injuries to his right leg.
The Melbourne man later contacted us at the Bega District News, to relay his story.
As a long-time fisherman, Mr Davidson was no stranger to the threats rock fishing posed.
"It was just a freak accident. These thing happen. Lucky for my lifejacket," he said.
Mr Davidson said for the past two years he had been volunteering with Fishcare Victoria on its FishAbility program, teaching children and people of all ages with disability the basics and enjoyment of fishing - how to cast, tie knots and so on.
"We always talk about safety in the clinics - 'don't go rock fishing!'" he said with a wry laugh.
One night he and a few mates decided to go on a fishing trip, they drove to Merimbula, arriving in the early hours, and headed for Tathra for first light.
Mr Davidson said they had prepared well. They had life vests and all the right safety equipment, they scouted the area first and checked on the swell and tides before heading to the water's edge on Tathra Headland.
But it was on his very first cast that the excitement turned to agony.
"After casting in I was walking back away from the edge when a wave came crashing over me - I'm six-foot-four and it broke over the top of me."
"It was a split second where I took my eye off the water."
Mr Davidson said he was driven to his knees by the rogue wave, and the full force cracked straight through his tibia. He also sustained a huge gash in his leg as the wash dragged him across the rocks while he tried to "hang on for dear life".
"I tried to stand but when my leg just went to jelly I knew it was a big deal.
"My mates dragged me out to higher ground. I applied first aid to myself, stopping the bleeding first, then putting on a tourniquet. I was getting dizzy, then when we got out of harm's way I called 000.
Mr Davidson was initially flown to South East Regional Hospital in Bega, then transferred to Canberra for specialist care.
He went in for his first surgery at 1am Sunday, June 19, to repair the huge wound in his lower leg and then on the Monday returned to surgery for the intensive work needed to repair his shattered tibia and dislocated kneecap.
Once he's home, Mr Davidson said he was already considering heading back to his volunteer role with Fishcare and FishAbility.
"That's definitely on the cards. I'm close to the coordinator of the program and I'm keen to help them with some clinics."
He also said he planned to give the kids a talk based on his experiences, as a bit of a cautionary tale.
"The rewards are not always worth the risk."
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