Ron Roos can still recall his relief at the sound and sight of the Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter.
He and three friends had set out from Taieri Mouth for a day's fishing in January 2010 when the weather changed rapidly.
''As we were crossing [the Taieri Mouth sandbar] a wave started building up in front of us and it just got larger and larger and ended up being bloody huge,'' the 55-year-old told the Otago Daily Times yesterday.
''Unfortunately, we didn't make it and the boat flipped.''
The four tried desperately to cling on to the upturned boat, but the poor health of Bill Maitland - one of the friends - saw him swept away.
The boat's captain, Greg Clark, made the decision to stay with him, floating in the cold seas.
''He was unselfish. He saved Bill's life by staying with him,'' Mr Roos said.
''Bill told him to leave and save himself, but he stayed with him. I don't think many people would have done that.''
Mr Roos said the quartet would have spent more than an hour in the water.
After seeing the other three float away, he decided to swim to Taieri Island and, when that was unsuccessful, to swim back to the beach.
When back on shore, he saw the helicopter approaching, carrying the Water Rescue Squad.
The other man on board the boat, John Turner, had begun swimming back to shore, but Mr Clark and Mr Maitland remained at sea.
''It certainly saved their lives. After the time they spent in the water they would have been buggered,'' Mr Roos said.
''After about an hour, I thought I'm going to make it, but I lost sight of the other ones pretty quick. It looked like they were getting dragged out to sea.''
He was thankful to the members of the squad and credited them for saving the lives of his mates.
''Everyone made it home alive but without that chopper I don't think the others would have made it.''
