Surfer plucked from rocks in heavy seas

Rescuers punched through windswept seas to pluck a surfer off rocks off St Clair beach in Dunedin last night.

Tide and wind conspired to suck Hok Lim, 21, toward the open sea before he paddled, for about 30 minutes on and off, for swell-slapped Paua Rock.

The University of Otago pharmacy student clung there for a half-hour that "felt like ages" before he was reached by Marine Search and Rescue.

Rescue squad member Tim Hunt, who was called to the scene about 7pm, said the cut and bruised Mr Lim was "very lucky -- another half a foot of swell, and he might not have stayed on the rock".

"When you're paddling against the wind and the swell, the rocks probably look like a pretty safe place to be. But it was really big out there, and he was pretty lucky."

Mr Lim, who has been surfing in Dunedin for about a year, paid tribute to Mr Hunt and rescue boat driver Stefan Brown.

"The sea was pretty rough, but they did an amazing job."