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Old 01-02-2005, 03:46 PM
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Default 2. Ian Young Lends A Hand

The tragic scale of the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and ensuing massive tsunami are still coming into focus as the world tries to grasp and react to this horrific disaster. The influence of this powerful event was felt as far away as Australia over 3000 miles away, when powerful tidal currents carried swimmers out to sea of the southwest coast of Western Australia. A kiteboarder intervened, saving the swimmers as related below:


From: http://upload.wikimedia.org/

More about the Earthquake at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_In...ean_earthquake
and
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqinthenews/2004/usslav/


From: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/


The area of Busselton in Western Australia
From: www.geographebayview.com.au


"Tidal surges sweep the bay
by Jayne Rickard
Wednesday, 29 December 2004

THE earthquake off Indonesia which caused destructive tsunamis throughout Asia on Sunday was felt locally when three people were swept into Geographe Bay on Monday as a result of tidal surges.

Graham Barrett and his sons Elliott, 8, and Reece Dorrington, 10, were swimming near the Geographe Bay Yacht Club about 10am when a rip sucked them more than 100 metres offshore.

They were spotted by a kitesurfer who helped them ashore.

All three were taken to Busselton Hospital and treated for exhaustion.

There were tidal swings off Busselton every 30 to 60 minutes in the 24 hours after the earthquake and it is believed the water flowing out of the diversion drain was moving unusually fast on Monday.

Police have been regularly patrolling the area on watch for more dangerous rips and are unsure when the surges will stop.

Despite the tidal changes, Busselton Volunteer Marine Rescue Group has reported a quiet Christmas period.

Volunteer Phil Nicholls said so far they had only rescued a dinghy that broke its mooring.

"It's been fairly quiet so far," he said. "But we're keeping our fingers crossed for this week."

Busselton businessman Gary Dodd was in Colombo when the tsunami hit the shores of Sri Lanka.

Mr Dodd awoke to find his seafront hotel filled with water and debris, before managing to get to high land and safety."


More from Kiteforum.com:

"The Kitesurfer's name is Ian Young.

He's and instructor from Western Australia and was the ex president of the WAKSA (West Australian Kitesurfing Association).

He was out teaching a student how to body drag and found the people caught in the rip. Help them ashore by dragging them back with the kite.

Good show Ian."


Ian Young
From: http://members.iinet.net.au/~ianyoung

Ian is a real active guy and a long time leader in kiteboarding in Oz and elsewhere. More about the man at: http://members.iinet.net.au/~ianyoung/profile_kite.html

and at: http://inperth.com/sculpture/


Busselton Pier
From: http://www.southwestlife.com.au/

Some additional observations from other folks in Oz on impacts from the tsunami appear at: http://www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/t...?TOPIC_ID=4281


Well done Ian! You never know when things may go south, being an able waterman is a strong plus.
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