FLYNNS Beach holds some frightening memories for Port Macquarie surf life saver Ben Hamel.
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Less than two years ago, the 13-year-old was rushed to hospital with water on his lungs after being smashed by a wave.
Hamel described it as being between four and six feet and the consequences were almost fatal.
After he returned to the beach and described to his father what had happened, he was in a battle against the clock.
"I just remember swallowing a heap of water and I got up and couldn't breathe," he said.
"It was pretty scary; I was out there swimming along and gasping for breath and the guys came along and took me into shore.
"Then I had to go to hospital and remember dad said they took me straight in. I felt really sick."
The teenager admitted he didn't know why everyone was so concerned.
"Dad told me what could have happened and I realised what could have happened if it went a little bit worse," he said.
"I suppose I was pretty lucky."
As a result, Hamel refused to go back into the ocean until recently and he attributed that to the help of coach Mel Cockshutt and mate Harry Askew.
"It was one of those ones where I didn't want to do surf life saving again; I was a pool swimmer and didn't really do anything in the ocean," he said.
I just remember swallowing a heap of water and I got up and couldn't breathe.
- Ben Hamel
This weekend, Hamel and his Port Macquarie club mates including Andie McGrath return to Flynns Beach for the surf life saving age championships.
McGrath has been competing in surf life saving since under-6s and hopes for a top three finish in the water events on Sunday.
The sand events were held at Lighthouse Beach last month.
"This weekend I'm aiming to try and win all the water events in the girls and get branch champion for the year," she said.
"I've been competing pretty strong in the water events; in the sand I'm not very strong, but water is definitely my strength."
She will compete in the ironman, board and swim events and said joining surf life saving has had many benefits.
"It's definitely helped me be safer in the surf and I know how to swim better, be more confident in the ocean and socially you know more people as well."
The action starts about 8am on Sunday.
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