An Eastern Cape man and lady, caught in rip currents at Silver Beach, Port Edward, were saved from drowning thanks to the swift response of an NSRI Port Edward trainee crewman, who was surfing nearby at the time, together with 2 Simunye lifeguards who launched into the surf to assist.
John Nicholas, NSRI Port Edward station commander, said:
At 17h30, Tuesday, 14 January, NSRI Port Edward duty crew, while at the NSRI Port Edward station 32 rescue base attending a routine management meeting, were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Silver Beach, Port Edward.
NSRI Port Edward rescue swimmers responded to the scene in our NSRI rescue vehicle. KZN Government Health EMS (EMRS – Emergency Medical and Rescue Services) responded.
An NSRI Port Edward trainee crew member, who happened to be surfing at Silver Beach at the time, had noticed a male and a female caught in rip currents while they were swimming, he had paddled towards them on his surfboard to assist them and he was joined by 2 Simunye lifeguards, armed with a rescue torpedo buoy, who had launched into the surf to assist.
The 2 casualties had been swept about 100 meters offshore and were in distress in the surf zone caught in rip currents.
The Simunye lifeguards and our NSRI trainee reached the 2 casualties in the surf zone where the lady was assisted ashore on the surfboard, with NSRI trainee, and the male was brought to shore with the assistance of the rescue torpedo buoy with the Simunye lifeguards.
Together NSRI medics and the Simunye lifeguards medically treated the 2 patients for non-fatal drowning symptoms and they were joined by an EMS paramedic who assisted with medical treatment at the beach.
It appears that a group of friends, from the Eastern Cape, were celebrating a friends matric results when the incident occurred.
The female, age 21, was released on the scene requiring no further medical treatment while the male, age 28, was transported to hospital in a serious condition by the EMS paramedic and he is reported to be recovering.
NSRI commend the swift response of our NSRI Port Edward trainee crew member and the Simunye lifeguards for saving the lives of the 2 casualties.
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