Stricken swimmer Niomi Hutchins clung to the jetty pylon as waves surged around her.
The 17-year-old's boyfriend had already disappeared from view after the pair was swept up in a rip during a night swim at Southport beach, on Queensland's Gold Coast, earlier this month.
"I felt selfish at first because I couldn't hang onto him," she told Nine News.
"I was crying my eyes out, screaming out his name".
Watch more: Niomi tells of ordeal
Footage taken from a police search helicopter shows Niomi, cold and cut by oysters, hanging on for dear life as the chopper circled above, using a search light to guide rescuers to her.
Both Niomi and boyfriend Daniel Kennedy were eventually rescued and today they returned to the beach to thank the chopper crew.
"I owe them my life," Niomi said. "I'm so thankful."
Constable Rob Finlay said the chopper crew felt enormous relief and cheered when everybody was safely ashore — the first time lives have been saved by Queensland's first police helicopter.
On February 16, just 12 days after Niomi was rescued, 16-year-old Katelyn Hyland disappeared in the surf at the same spot. Her body has not been found.
"I thought straight away that could've been me," Niomi said.
She and Daniel have vowed never to swim again at night in the surf.
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