While surfing alone at popular spot Oilies around 11.30am, the man reportedly landed awkwardly and injured his left leg. 

NSW Ambulance duty operations manager Inspector Norm Rees said the man was unable to move his leg, but managed to struggle to the beach in search of assistance.

 ‘‘He dragged himself out of the surf, but realised that with his position, he couldn’t be seen. He crawled across to another part of the beach and tried to climb out, but he couldn’t,’’ Insp Rees said.

A breakwall at the beach meant the man could not pull himself out, and having stashed his phone in his car, also could not call for help.

The 64-year-old managed to catch the attention of a nearby group watching the water, who called emergency services.

Ambulance crews received the call around 12.20pm – almost an hour after the man tore his hamstring.

‘‘We stabilised him, kept him warm, and gave him pain relief,’’ Insp Rees said. ‘‘Other emergency services assisted, but to extricate him was a task in itself.’’

With the help of Fire Rescue NSW crews, the man was placed on a spine board and loaded into a Stokes Litter rescue stretcher. He was then hand-hauled over a 10-metre high breakwall, and taken by ambulance to Wollongong Hospital.

‘‘He was in good spirits, but very lucky,’’ Insp Rees said.