Cape Town - The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) has hailed good Samaritans who saved two teenagers who were being swept out to sea in rip currents at Eerste Rivier Beach in Tsitsikamma.
It is reported that a 13-year-old female was caught in a rip current, when a 15-year-old male, who was swimming with her, went to her aid before both were caught in rip currents.
Bystanders raised the alarm and they had thrown floating objects, including an NSRI pink rescue buoy and body boards towards the two teenagers.
The girl had been holding onto the pink floatation buoy but was exhausted, while the boy was holding onto a body board but by that stage he had been separated from the girl, the NSRI said.
“Good Samaritan Simon Bekker, age 66, a former Navy diver, launched into the surf to try to assist. He reached the girl and while assisting her they were separated while trying to reach the shore. He had called on family and bystanders on the shore to throw floating gear towards them. The girl had a pink rescue buoy that she was holding onto.
“Simon then went towards the male casualty, who was close to rocks and in grave danger. In strong currents Simon called to the teenager to swim away from the rocks before Simon was forced to retreat and recovered himself to the shoreline,” said the NSRI.
“Good Samaritan 50-year-old Jan Bester then launched into the surf, wearing flippers that bystanders had passed to him, in efforts to try to assist. In strong currents Jan reached the girl who was barely conscious and slipping under water. Assisted by the floating objects he was able to swim the girl safely to a beach.”
NSRI Oyster Bay's Jaen Smit arrived on the scene where he initiated medical treatment to the girl who was initially unconscious and not breathing.
Following airway management and re-warming she regained consciousness and spontaneous breathing while expelling water from her lungs.
In the dense fog and rough seas and close to rocks the male teenager who was holding onto a body board was showing signs of extreme exhaustion and disappearing under water at times.
Good Samaritans Fanus Kruger, a local, and his family, his son Pieter and 15-year-old grandson Steph, who were visiting from Rustenberg, at a home nearby at Skuitbaai, were alerted by Franette Bekker to the unfolding drama.
They launched a jet-ski where the incident was unfolding and despite dense fog and rough seas they reached the scene where they initiated a search and were able to bring the male teenager out.
“Both were transported to hospital by private care ambulance in serious conditions. The male was released from hospital later on Sunday and the female was released from hospital later on Monday. Both are on the road to recovery. The NSRI commends everyone involved for their combined community effort that contributed to saving the lives of the two teenagers.”
Cape Town