Three saved from drowning in Herold's Bay

GEORGE NEWS - Three people were saved from drowning by two surfers and other bystanders at Herold's Bay Beach yesterday afternoon, Wednesday 22 November.

According to one of the rescuers, Steve Steyn, a surfing instructor at Vibe Surf School, he and fellow instructor Corné Calitz were at Dutton's Cove when they heard the news of someone in trouble in the water.

"We rushed to the bakkie and raced to the beach. We grabbed our boards and ran to the water," said Steyn.

Using their surfboards, Steyn and Calitz managed to save a man and a young woman from the water. "I took the man on my board and Corné [Calitz] took the daughter," said Steyn. At the time that Steyn and Calitz arrived at the beach, a third person - who had been in shallower waters - had already been rescued from being pulled into the ocean by the current.

Another rescuer, Adriaan Basson, told George Herald that he and some others were on the beach when the bathers got into trouble to the left side of Herold's Bay. "We managed to get one person out quite quickly, but the others were pulled in by the tide," he said.

Meanwhile Hartenbos lifesaving lifeguard Ian Barnard, who was at Herold’s Bay grabbed an NSRI pink rescue buoy, that is stationed at the beach, and he swam out.

Reaching the casualties he handed them the pink buoy to aid them to stay afloat, while he attempted to calm them and prevent panic.

Barnard admits that the dad, in his panic, had desperately tried to climb onto him, while the girl used the pink buoy to stay afloat. Barnard swam back to the beach where a bystander handed him a second pink rescue buoy and ran along rocks to re-enter the water nearer to the casualties

Basson, together with a group of other beachgoers, managed to get onto the rocks near the casualties to keep them calm. After someone else brought them surfboards and fins, Basson and another person paddled out to the casualties to assist.

"The longboarders arrived and we assisted to get the casualties on their boards, after which we all paddled out," he said.

The surfers managed to get the casualties onto the beach where the NSRI Wilderness Station 23 and other emergency services took over and stabilised the casualties.

Lifeguards

As the summer season approaches, George Municipality is gearing up to ensure the safety of beachgoers and swimmers. Lifeguards will be on duty at various beaches from December onwards.

The schedule for lifeguard deployment at various beaches in the region was released last week and these measures aim to provide protection and peace of mind to those enjoying the scenic beauty of the coastal areas.

Essential phone numbers to keep close this summer: