SOUTHERN CAPE NEWS - This past weekend three local fishermen went missing, two at the shoreline south of Thembalethu, and one at Hansmoeskraal, near Pacaltsdorp.
On the same weekend, three individuals were rescued from a rip current at Victoria Bay, among them a male teenager who was hospitalised in a stable but serious condition; a man from George drowned at Souwesia beach in Great Brak; and three people, a man and two women, drowned in the Sedgefield lagoon.
Two fishermen, Thembalethu
NSRI Wilderness station commander Mike Vonk said it appears that three local men were fishing together on Saturday 3 February at the shoreline south of Thembalethu when a wave swept one of the men off the rocks.
"While the two men were attempting to direct their friend to try to swim towards safety, a wave washed another one of the men into the water.
"The third friend had tried to direct both men towards safety but after they were unable to reach safety he had hiked to their vehicles, above the cliffs, and on reaching cellphone reception he raised the alarm before returning to search for his friends who had disappeared in the surf," said Vonk.
Several emergency services responded, including WC Government Health EMS rescue squad and ambulance, NSRI rescue swimmers, the police, WPDS (Water Policing and Diving Services), George Fire and Rescue Services and the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter, accompanied by an NSRI ASR (Airborne Sea Rescue) crewman.
"On arrival on the scene an extensive air, sea and shoreline search commenced," said Vonk.
"Despite an extensive search there remains no sign of the two missing men."
Police divers are continuing the search.
Fisherman, Hansmoeskraal
On Sunday afternoon, 4 February, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated by the police following eyewitness reports of a fisherman missing at Hansmoeskraal, near Pacaltsdorp.
All the emergency services that responded to the two missing fishermen near Thembalethu again responded to help in this search, except for the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter and the NSRI ASR (Airborne Sea Rescue) crewman. Although initially activated, they had to stand down due to dense fog on the scene.
"An extensive sea and shoreline search commenced in the search for the local adult male. George Fire and Rescue Services conducted an aerial search using a rescue drone," said Vonk.
"Despite the extensive air, sea and shoreline search there remains no sign of the missing man. It appears that while fishing from the shoreline the man was swept into the sea by a wave." Police divers are continuing the search.
Three rescued, Victoria Bay
On Saturday 3 February, three people who were swimming in the surf zone at Victoria Bay apparently moved out of the lifeguards' safer designated area and were swept out further to sea by rip currents.
Four lifeguards went into the surf to assist.
Shortly before 17:00, the lifeguards alerted NSRI Wilderness duty crew to a drowning in progress.
"The lifeguards rescued two casualties to safety, uninjured," said Vonk.
"While swimming towards the third casualty they lost sight of the male teenager in the breaking surf line and sea swells.
"Lifeguards reached the area where they had last seen the teenager and located him as he was being pulled under water.
"The lifeguards, assisted by a local surfer, placed the teenager onto the surfer's surfboard and initiated rescue breaths while rescuing him towards the beach."
Once ashore three local doctors who happened to be on the beach, NSRI lifeguards, NSRI medics and an ER24 paramedic continued medical treatment and rescue breathing.
They were joined by additional NSRI members, emergency services and paramedics who were arriving on the scene.
"With respiratory resuscitation efforts continuing, the teenager was transported to hospital by ER24 ambulance in a critical condition where ongoing medical care was provided by doctors and nurses.
"Following ongoing extensive medical care in hospital, the teenager was stabilised and hospital staff have reported that he is expected to make a full recovery," said Vonk.
Vonk said NSRI lifeguards, the local surfer and the off-duty doctors who assisted on the scene are commended for their swift response that contributed to saving the teenager's life. "Thoughts remain with the teenager and his family during the recovery phase."
Souwesia beach, Great Brak
A man from George in his early 30s drowned at Souwesia beach, near De Vette Mossel, on Sunday 4 February.
NSRI rescue swimmers, WC Government Health EMS, Mossel Bay Fire and Rescue Services, the police and By Grace ambulance services responded to reports of a drowning in progress.
"While responding to the scene it was confirmed that two men were out of the water," said Andre Fraser, NSRI Mossel Bay duty coxswain.
"Paramedics exhausted all efforts to resuscitate a man, in his early 30s, who was sadly declared deceased."
He said that apparently, a Good Samaritan, a 26-year-old man, went into the surf to help when it seemed that the swimmer was having difficulty in rip currents. "The Good Samaritan was not injured."
Fraser said they believe members of the public had assisted them out of the surf. The body of the man was taken into the care of Government Health Forensic Pathology Services. Police have opened an inquest docket.
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