GEORGE NEWS - A 43-year-old man from Pretoria is recovering in hospital after being rescued from the water at Flat Rock, Wilderness Main Beach, on Sunday morning, 12 October.

According to Jonathan Britton, NSRI Wilderness station commander, the NSRI crew was conducting routine training exercises when they were alerted at 11:09 to reports of a man in distress in the water.

“Our NSRI rescue vehicle, with rescue swimmers, a quad bike, and the Western Cape Government Health EMS rescue squad and ambulance, responded while our crew prepared to launch rescue craft,” said Britton.

Before rescuers arrived, eyewitnesses confirmed that the man had been swept back onto the rocks. On arrival, NSRI medics and an EMS rescue paramedic found bystanders providing first aid to the man, who was in a serious condition showing non-fatal drowning symptoms.

“He was stabilised at Flat Rock before being transported to our NSRI rescue base and later to hospital by ambulance in a serious but stable condition,” Britton said.

The man remains in hospital under medical care and is expected to make a full recovery.

It is unclear whether he fell or was swept off the rocks by waves. Eyewitness Gerrie Volschenk, from Johannesburg, said he heard a commotion and saw the man struggling in the water. He, along with locals Steven Hurt and Gerraine Rozenkrantz from Victoria Bay and two fishermen, waded through the surf to help.

They managed to move the man to safety and began administering first aid while others raised the alarm

Britton praised the bystanders for their quick and selfless actions. “The Good Samaritans are commended for their assistance, which contributed to saving the man’s life,” he said.

The man’s family has expressed deep gratitude to everyone who helped and requested privacy as he continues his recovery.

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