Member of Witney Rugby Club battled for life in Australia (From Witney Gazette)

Member of Witney Rugby Club battled for life in Australia

9:00am Wednesday 26th April 2006 in Witney By Andrew Alexander

A 65-YEAR-OLD member of Witney Rugby Club was dramatically rescued from beneath a capsized fishing boat as it was pounded by waves in Australia.

Roger 'Dusty' Mountford, who divides his time between Oxfordshire and Australia, had to be dragged from beneath the 4.2m-boat after it overturned near the Noosa sandbar, in Queensland.

A stalwart of the rugby club, he was rescued by 20-year-old Steven Deely, the grandson of Mr Mountford's fiancee, Jean.

Mr Mountford said: "He deserved a medal for his quick thinking and selfless action.

"The surf rescue team, jetskiers, and volunteers from the beach did a marvellous job getting me back to the beach.

"They then went back into the water, righted the boat, retrieved eskies (a cool box), seats, and cushions, and towed it to Tewantin. It was a great team effort and a tribute to Aussie mateship."

Mr Deely injured his arm during the rescue and was treated by paramedics and at a local hospital, but was back at work at a local petrol station within days.

Karl Anders, an Australian who plays at Witney rugby club, said: "Everyone knows Roger as Dusty. He's 65 going on 25, and he's a bit of a local character.

"He still plays rugby, and he's someone younger players look at, and don't think he's much to worry about.

"That's a mistake they only make once. He's been playing for 50 years, so he knows what he's doing."

Another old rugby-playing colleague, club steward, Dave Wicks, said: "He's played for the club for a long time, perhaps 20 years. And he played for Oxford Rugby Club before coming back here again.

"I suppose you could say he's a bit eccentric in what he gets up to.

"He's certainly very active for a 65-year-old."