GEORGE NEWS - A 29-year-old man was rescued from rip currents at Leentjiesklip, Wilderness Beach, on Tuesday evening, 13 January.
Jonathan Britton, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Wilderness Station’s commander, said the duty crew was activated at 19:37 following reports of a drowning in progress.
At the time of the call, an NSRI rescue swimmer and coxswain had been near the Station 23 rescue base. They immediately prepared a rescue craft for launching and the rescue swimmer proceeded to the scene on a quad bike.
Additional NSRI rescue swimmers and crew members were called in to assist. The Western Cape Government’s Health EMS, George Fire and Rescue Services, the police, NSRI lifeguards, George Municipality’s lifeguards and ER24 ambulance services were also called.
Eyewitness reports indicated that two swimmers were in distress. One appeared to be attempting to reach some rocks, while the other was caught in rip currents and was being swept further out to sea.
A local surfer, Cade Harris, who had been observing the swimmers, noticed they were in difficulty. One local male swimmer, aged 26, managed to reach the rocks and make his way back to shore without assistance.
Despite the rough sea conditions, heavy swells and a dumping shore break, Harris launched his surfboard and paddled out to the second swimmer, who appeared exhausted, was slipping below water and was barely conscious.
He managed to get the man onto his surfboard, keep him afloat and bring him to a nearby sandbank.
A former lifeguard also entered the water with an NSRI pink rescue buoy and together with the NSRI rescue swimmer they assisted Harris in bringing the man to the beach.
Once ashore rescue teams began medical treatment for non-fatal drowning symptoms. The man’s condition was serious.
Metro EMS and ER24 paramedics joined the rescue teams on the beach, where further medical care was provided. The 29-year-old man from Upington was transported to hospital by ER24 in a serious but stable condition.
The man was discharged from hospital on Wednesday morning.
The NSRI commends the swift response of the Harris as well as the coordinated efforts of the NSRI, lifeguards and emergency services, which contributed to saving the man’s life.
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