Non-fatal Drowning Incident at TO Strand, Port Edward

At 11h44, Saturday, 4 July, NSRI Port Edward duty crew were activated following multiple eyewitness reports of a drowning in progress at TO Strand, Port Edward.

NSRI Port Edward rescue swimmers and the NSRI Port Edward rescue vehicle responded while the NSRI Port Edward duty crew responded to the NSRI Port Edward station 32 rescue base to prepare to launch rescue craft.

NSRI Shelly Beach, who were using the NSRI Port Edward rescue craft JetRIB for a stand-by at a local fishing competition, towed the NSRI rescue craft JetRIB to Glenmore Beach where the rescue craft was launched and responded towards TO Strand.

Netcare 911 ambulance services responded.

Reports suggested at least 7 persons appeared to be in distress in the surf zone.

While responding to the scene 7 of the “casualties” had made it safely back to shore but one casualty, caught in rip currents, was being swept further out to sea.

On arrival on the scene 3 young men were found at the back breakers, backline, while the 7 casualties, who were found to be safe on the beach, they indicated that they had been swimming but they had managed to get back to the beach safely while the one casualty, who was swept further out to sea, he was being assisted by 2 of their section leaders who had responded to his aid, one swimming and one with a surfboard.

Conditions, with strong rip currents and up to 3 meter breaking waves, were too rough for an NSRI rescue swimmer with a Malibu rescue board to get through the breakers to reach them.

The casualty and the 2 section leaders, who were beyond the backline breakers, were using a surfboard as floatation to stay afloat.

The NSRI rescue craft reached them where in relays of one at a time all 3 were brought safely to shore aboard the NSRI rescue craft where they were taken into the care of NSRI medics and Netcare 911 paramedics.

All 3 recovered from exhaustion in the care of Netcare 911 paramedics and NSRI medics.

The remaining teenagers and young adults, who had all made it safely to shore, they were assessed by paramedics – they were released uninjured.

A group of teenagers and young adults, from Gauteng, known as “Voortrekkers”, visit Port Edward annually on an education excursion camp, they had been at TO Strand beach swimming and surfing when at least 7 of the young adults and teenagers got into difficulties, caught in rip currents.

NSRI were informed that the 7 teenagers and young adults had reached the shore safely – they had reportedly not been in any imminent distress.
One casualty, was swept out to sea in rip currents and he was being assisted beyond the breakers by the 2 section leaders – together, they were using the surfboard as floatation.

From what NSRI understands the three who were beyond the back breakers with the surfboard – they had noticed NSRI emergency personnel and the Netcare 911 ambulance arriving at the beach, they had recalled, from their water safety instruction, to stay afloat and to head out to sea to beyond the backline breakers and to wait for rescue – rather than risk exhaustion fighting against strong rip currents. Those 3 were rescued by the NSRI rescue craft beyond the backline breakers.

Annually Voortrekker camp leaders, camp officers, receive water safety awareness facilitated by NSRI water safety drowning prevention instructors, SA Police Service WPDS (Water Policing and Diving Service) and by the Lifesaving Academy.

Every year, at the camp, leaders brief the Voortrekkers who attend the camp on water safety and annually the camp visits NSRI Port Edward.

NSRI has commended the group of “Voortrekkers” for surviving this ordeal and for staying with the floating object (the surfboard).

All casualties were released without injury.

The annual water safety awareness that these youth leaders receive from NSRI, SAPS WPDS and from the Lifesaving Academy, their staying with the floating object (recalling the water safety training), and the swift response to this emergency, contributed to the successful outcome.