GEORGE NEWS - A team effort from Wilderness NSRI Station 23 crew members and beachgoers on holiday, resulted in a happy ending after two boys and their father were pulled out to sea in a rip current at Leentjiesklip Beach on Friday afternoon, 7 October.
After receiving the call, NSRI rescue swimmers and medics were dispatched to the scene directly while crew members launched a rescue craft from the station.
A Western Cape Government Health EMS ambulance and rescue unit and George Fire and Rescue Services also responded to the scene.
According to Wilderness NSRI station commander, Mike Vonk, a holidaying family from New Zealand, originally from Bloemfontein, stopped for a swim at Leentjiesklip and the two boys were pulled out in a rip current.
"Their dad rushed into the water to rescue them, but he also got into trouble in the rough sea conditions," said Vonk.
A man from Pretoria was on the beach with his own family when he saw the two boys and their father in trouble.
"He immediately grabbed his child’s bodyboard and launched into the water to assist. On reaching the family, the four of them hung onto the bodyboard for flotation, while being pulled further out to sea," said Vonk.
The Pretorian hero soon realised that they would not be able to swim back on their own and had to wait for assistance.
In the meantime, the rescuer's wife grabbed a pink rescue buoy while shouting for help. Another man on holiday from Pretoria responded, grabbing the buoy from the woman and launching into the water.
When he reached the casualties he swam back to shore with the 13-year-old while the other man stayed with the father and the 10-year-old boy. They were able to use the body board to get back to shore.
Meanwhile, four men who were working on a building site overlooking the beach, saw the events unfold and also ran down to the beach.
"One of the men (21) grabbed an NSRI pink rescue buoy and entered the water to assist. Unfortunately he was pulled out to sea by the strong current and he went past the casualties, who were at that stage gradually getting closer to the shore,” said Vonk.
“The first NSRI rescue swimmer on the scene assessed the situation and managed to swim out and rescue the 21-year-old. NSRI medics who had responded to the scene were subsequently joined by NSRI crew who had responded by boat and provided emergency medical treatment to the 10-year-old and the 21-year-old.
"The other boy and their father did not require medical treatment. The 14-year-old boy and his father, although shocked by the experience, did not require any medical treatment.”
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