Devon Dakin yesterday relived his brush with death when a freak gust of wind sent him tumbling 25 feet from rocks into the sea.

The 16-year-old battled for nearly 30 minutes against towering waves which sucked him under and smashed him against rocks.

He repeatedly screamed for help, but no one heard him. "I honestly felt I was going to drown. And it was very cold," the Berkeley Institute student told The Royal Gazette. The drama occurred in North Shore waters on Wednesday evening. "Around 6.30 that night, a friend was at my house," he said. "I wanted to look at the rough waves outside my house so I went down to the rocks. He was timid to go close to the water's edge, then he left." And, according to Mr. Dakin, after he looked out at the ocean, a gust of wind sent him crashing into the water. "I began screaming for help, but no one heard me. My parents were not at home," the Pembroke teenager said. He added after several failed attempts to swim to shore, he removed his jeans and shoes because they were weighing him down.

"I was frantically trying to swim. It was getting dark. I was trying to grab onto the rocks, but the waves kept sucking me under and smashing me against them," Mr. Dakin said.

Although he considered himself a "strong swimmer", the North Shore Road resident said he struggled in the rough waters for close to 30 minutes.

"I went under several times because of the high waves," he said. "I honestly felt I was going to drown. And it was very cold." Eventually, Mr. Dakin said currents caused him to drift near the ramp of a neighbour's house. Once he got within reach, he said he pulled himself onto the ramp and staggered to their door. "They were panicked when they saw me. I was standing on their doorstep in my boxers and a sweater. Neither of us knew each other, and they were wondering where I came from," he said.

Immediately, they wrapped him in towels and called 911 for help. Now on crutches, Mr. Dakin sustained lacerations to his spleen, kidneys, hands and feet. "I still feel a little traumatised," he said. "And I am extremely relieved that I didn't drown."

And to his neighbours who helped him, he said: "I'm extremely, extremely grateful to them. I'm going to pop down when I'm better and thank them personally."