Scuba Geek

Robert Hewitts ordeal recaptured, 75 hours lost in the sea July 25, 2006

Posted by Andy Carroll in : Accidents, News, OceanDiving , trackback

I wrote about Robert Hewitt when his ordeal was first announced. Whilst scuba diving off the Kapiti Coast near Mana Island Robert went missing and search efforts failed to locate him. Amazingly he was found 75 hours later after having floated in the ocean with no food or water, other than some shellfish he had collected whilst diving.

It seems that his ordeal is going to be made into a documentary, and Studio 178 are currently beginning the project which will involve 15 days of filming and six weeks of post-production work, the documentary expecting to be screened early 2007. This from stuff.co.nz;

Co-director Sarah Dixon said the documentary was being made with money from New Zealand on Air and TV3. She said it will blend together the aspects that helped Mr Hewitt survive, such as his bravery, fitness and survival training.

“The elements that kept him going were knowing they were still looking for him, his love of his family, his faith and Maori traditions,” Mrs Dixon said.

“Someone less fit, less strong, probably would have had organ failure after that long. “He absorbed a lot of saltwater through his skin,” she said.