GEORGE NEWS - The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) appeals to the public to put safety first in all water activities, both coastal and inland, be it bathing, hiking, sailing, paddling, fishing or boating.
Beachgoers are asked to only swim at beaches protected by lifeguards and to swim only in the safer swimming areas designated by the lifeguards.
"We are asking parents and children, with our hearts in our throat, to have responsible adult supervision for children when they are in and around water and don’t be distracted – watch over the children," said NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon.
The NSRI, lifeguards, police and emergency services are on high alert and all are making the urgent appeal: First and foremost, be safe.
This follows after a number of non-fatal drownings have already occurred in the Garden Route, with the latest in Victoria Bay last Thursday. Click here to read more.
The day before this, Wednesday 29 November, members of the NSRI Wilderness were conducting routine maintenance and training at 18:46 when they received an alert about a drowning in progress at Wilderness Beach.
On arrival at the scene, they found that a 24-year-old Dutch tourist was being brought out of the water by his friends.
NSRI pink buoys are stationed at all the major beaches in the area. Photo: Wilderness NSRI
"He was medically treated on the beach by NSRI medics for non-fatal drowning symptoms and transported to hospital by ER24 ambulance in a stable condition. He has since been discharged from hospital," said Wilderness NSRI station commander Mike Vonk.
It is believed that four friends, all Dutch tourists, were swimming in the surfline when they noticed that strong rip currents in an outgoing tide were pulling them out to sea.
Three were able to get back to shore, but the other was swept away. One of the friends (22) went to his aid and swam back to shore with the casualty on his back.
Read a previous article: Follow these water safety rules.
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