GEORGE NEWS - What promised to be a great day out in the surf, turned out to be the longest day of the year that will forever be etched in memories of the Van Huyssteen family from George.
Like many other surfers that day, Henri van Huyssteen (19) took advantage of the 3 to 3,5m swell at Victoria Bay at about 08:30 on Thursday 21 December.
He was the only surfer in the main break not wearing a wetsuit, making it easy for his family to spot him whenever he caught a wave. But about 40 minutes into his session, unbeknown to those on shore, Henri suffered a seizure.
According to Henri's mother Esther, fellow surfer Nehan Pretorius noticed the ominous sight of a "tombstone": a surfboard standing up straight in the water, pulled upright by the dead weight of its rider, attached to the board by its leash.
Nehan called for help from his friend Ivan van der Merwe and together they managed to pull Henri up.
"From our Vic Bay jetty vantage point, we scanned the huge swell for a glimpse of a boy clad in boardies – to no avail. We had no inkling yet of trouble, until a guy ran past us from the far end of the promenade," she said.
"When a young lady sped past minutes later, we stopped her for long enough to learn that a drowning was in progress. We couldn't spot Henri, and didn't yet understand the huddle of surfers gathering at the far end of the bay, where an unnamed surfer was administering rescue breaths and chest compressions."
With the assistance of a dozen surfers and body-boarders, Henri was brought through the heavy shore-break. NSRI lifeguards on duty, Ellen Strydom, Wikus Jordaan and Jonathan Schutte, had immediately alerted the crew at Wilderness Station 23, so that station commander Mike Vonk and members of his team were on hand by the time the huddle had reached the beach.
Assisted by paramedics from Frontier Medix, Henri was stabilised and transferred in a critical condition to Mediclinic George, where emergency personnel under Dr Sunette Coetzee started treatment for secondary drowning symptoms.
"Specialist physician Dr Greg Palkowski then took over the reins, assisted by the able ICU team. Henri was not out of the woods, since his lungs had suffered severely after extensive water inhalation," said Esther.
After two days of an induced coma, he had recovered beyond all expectations and could breathe without assistance. By 24 December, Henri was discharged and on the 25th, joined his family around the Christmas table.
"There is no way to adequately express our gratitude to everyone who helped saving Henri's life," said Esther.
"Dr Carmen Graham was off duty but provided invaluable assistance on the beach, as did a lady only identified as 'Petro'.
"Steve Hurt, Riaan Wydeman and Matt Carmichael were among the boarders who ensured Henri was kept afloat.
"Madelé Strydom updated the local lifesaving community and Dr Mari Neethling kept us informed in her capacity as both medical professional and family friend.
Buddies from Plettenberg Bay and George and around the globe bolstered us with their prayers. We thank you all!"
‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
