lose one's footing

夏のNZから。浅瀬でカニの仕掛けを確認しようとしていた人が足をすべらせて...。日本語では「足をすべらせる」というのが一般的ですが、英語ではlose one's footing、「足場をなくす」と発想します。でも助かったよかったですね。
ちなみに見出しにあるfishermanは普通は「漁師」ですが、助けられたこの人は土地開発業者ということなので、「海に漁（と言っても、カニ取り）に来ていた人」あたりなのでしょうか。（UG）

'The boy gave me hope' - saved fisherman

It was hope in the form of a 12-year-old boy that saved Vincent Shao from sinking beneath the waves and drowning at Waihi Beach on Saturday.

"I thought I was going to die," the 32-year-old Auckland resident said from his Mt Eden home yesterday.

Mr Shao, a property developer, and a friend had set two crab pots on the surf beach near Bowentown when he lost his footing in waist-deep water shortly before 2pm.

A rip dragged him out to sea and into the breakers.

The Chinese immigrant and married father of one was a competent swimmer but he fought against the current - a common mistake that quickly renders inexperienced ocean swimmers exhausted.

Mr Shao soon found himself struggling to stay afloat nearly 100 metres from shore.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/8130517/The-boy-gave-me-hope-saved-fisherman