Former NZ Navy diver Rob Hewitt, who survived 75 hours in the sea between Mana and Kāpiti Islands in 2006, is returning to Kāpiti to recall his amazing survival experience at Southwards Theatre on Wednesday October 15 at 10am.
Rob Hewitt, the younger brother of All-Black Norm Hewitt, spent four days and three nights bobbing up and down in the sea off Porirua’s coast after becoming separated from his diving mates, and was rescued just by chance.
Kāpiti Coast Grey Power hosts two-monthly public meetings, usually held at the Ocean Road Community Centre, featuring President Roger Booth chat-interviewing various people of interest. Because of high public interest in the recall of Rob’s story, this session is being held at Southwards Theatre.
Six years after being rescued, Rob previously returned in 2012, and Rob and Roger combined in 16 chat-interviews to audiences totally about 3500 individuals, mainly children and young people.
Roger Booth, who was Kāpiti Coast Deputy Mayor at that time, was responsible for Kāpiti Kids Motivation Trust, which for 10 years brought over 30 national sporting and arts identities into Kāpiti primary and secondary schools to share their stories, skills, and experiences.
“For Rob, his experience was still pretty raw, after only six years, and for him it was an exhausting three days. But all ages of young people, from primers to senior secondary school students, plus an adult group, were engrossed in an experience that should never have happened. Hopefully this message got across to most. Rob also set foot on Kāpiti Island for the first time,” says Mr Booth.
HEAR ROB HEWITT – SOUTHWARDS THEATRE, WED OCTOBER 15th, at 10am