As someone who has always been attracted to and participated in dangerous sports I have no criticism of him 'giving it a go'. Did he ask to be rescued or even need rescuing ? I also don't have a problem with your 'Should have been left to drown' comment, presumably if the rescue services had deemed it too risky to mount the rescue then they would have left him or her to perish, and that is fair enough too. He or she probably knew the risks and were happy to take them.
I certainly have a lot more respect for that surfer, than the idiot I seen today risking the lives and well being of others by driving his oversized SUV at stupidly high speeds on a minor country road. Presumably if he had piled into another road user and killed them it would be put down as some sort of act of god.
I think that shows that you don't understand either the feelings of the persons family and friends, nor the dedication of the volunteer unpaid lifeboat crews and coastguard.
but it was yourself who made the comment "Should have been left to drown"!
Do you want to ban or regulate all dangerous sports ? Rock climbing only to be performed with top ropes at council approved sites manned by experts to ensure no one tries anything too risky? no surfing in waves greater than 1 metre? where does it end, compulsory helmets for cyclists ? cyclists banned from 'A' roads
And how do you propose we deal with people who eat too much, drink too much, smoke ? it could be argued that they may be taking up more than their fair share of NHS time thus putting other peoples lives and health at risk. I'm not for this nanny state, by all means tell people that things are dangerous, but lets not wrap everyone one up in cotton wool. Life has to be an adventure, and the bigger the adventure the better.
Anyway, looking further than the sensationalist headlines of the of the media who seem to like to exaggerate everything out of all proportions, it would appear the surfer managed to get himself back to shore and did not need rescued. I take my hat off to the lunatic.