TWO surfers had a narrow escape after they got into difficulty at Newquay’s big wave spot on Thursday.

Rob Fowlie and Andrew Douglas from St Agnes attempted to stop their jetski from being washed onto rocks at the Cribbar.

The jetski, which the surfers had been using to pull each other into huge waves, lost power after developing a mechanical problem.

Rob got his legs entangled in the tow rope as he clung onto the jetski and Andrew got dragged underwater.

The seasoned big wave riders, who have surfed Nazaré in Portugal, managed to get themselves out of trouble through their extensive training.

Rob and Andrew will attempt to retrieve the stricken jetski when the conditions allow.

Rob said: “We had a great session. It was mechanical failure that was the direct result of our mishap. You have to pay to play, I guess.

“I had towed Dougy into a wave. It was a great wave and I came back around to pick him up. The pick-up was great but then the jetski just stopped.

“I shouted to Dougy a wave is coming and we hung onto the jetski and then all hell broke loose with set after set washed us through to the rocks.

“I got the tow rope wrapped around my legs and the back of my knees and it just trawled me through the rocks. It was pretty dicey.

“I held on for as long as possible to try and recover the ski and realised I was caught up in the tow rope, still once I had let go.

“We train religiously for such occasions and this situation was testimony to that.

“We have impact life jacket suits CO2 cartridge inflation vests helmets and radio coms. “It was a case of mechanical bad luck.

“We always train with a second safety jetski just in case whilst all carrying VHF radios in constant communication with our spotter watching from the headland.

“Our safety swiftly swooped in to self-rescue and be will be back once this swell has passed to retrieve our equipment.”

A crowd gathered on Towan Headland to watch the surfers take on the giant barrelling Cribbar waves before witnessing the drama unfold at the end of the surfing session.

Andrew said: “The surf was pumping and some great waves where surfed.

“We were going back and forth trading waves and then at the end it kind of went wrong.

“We had a back-up safety ski in the water but unfortunately the power to the ski died in the very worst spot.

“I had surfed a wave, and Rob came into rescue me but when we went to accelerate away, the power died. Because we were on the inside, it didn’t allow for a recovery in time and a set hit the ski and washed it into the rocks.

“I got dragged underneath and my hand got smashed in the wipe out with the ski

“Our safety ski rescued us but unfortunately the ski was lost.

“Both myself and Rob surf Nazare in Portugal where the world’s largest waves are the size was well within our skill set but when mechanical engines are involved, there’s always a risk thing can go wrong.

“We have trained extensively for situations like this.”

Video by MJFotosCornwall. Picture gallery by OnlyFinsNewquay