Thanks to a fisherman’s quick thinking and the accessibility of a pink rescue buoy, a potential tragedy at Onrus Beach ended in relief and gratitude.
Hermanus, South Africa (13 November 2026) – On the evening of Saturday, 7 November, a Pretoria man who had recently relocated to Hermanus found himself caught in strong rip currents while swimming in the surf zone at Onrus Beach.
Two nearby local fishermen, who had been packing up their gear to head home, noticed him struggling in the prevailing rip currents.
One of the fishermen, Azhar Gierdien, the brother of a former NSRI Hermanus trainee crewman, saw the man desperately trying to escape the currents and swim back to shore. Azhar ran to grab the NSRI pink rescue buoy stationed at the beach and launched into the water with it.
Azhar reached the struggling swimmer as he was nearing the shoreline and assisted him back to the beach using the buoy.
NSRI Hermanus duty coxswain Johann Koekemoer said NSRI Hermanus rescue swimmers were activated directly to the scene. Meanwhile, the duty crew responded to the NSRI Station 17 rescue base to prepare to launch rescue craft, and the NSRI rescue vehicle was dispatched following eyewitness reports of a drowning in progress at Onrus Beach.
“On arrival at the scene, we found the casualty safely ashore. The 42-year-old man was medically assessed by EMS paramedics and released, requiring no further medical care, with the advice to watch for symptoms of non-fatal drowning,” said Koekemoer.
Thanks to the sharp eyes of local fishermen, Azhar’s selfless courage, and the lifesaving presence of the NSRI pink rescue buoy, a potentially tragic evening ended with a safe return to shore.
This marks the 268th successful rescue the NSRI is aware of involving an NSRI pink rescue buoy.
“No harm has come to any Good Samaritan rescuer using an NSRI pink rescue buoy in a bystander rescue since the inception of the NSRI pink rescue buoys around South Africa in 2017,” concluded Koekemoer.
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One Less Person on Paarl’s Streets, and One Family ReunitedThe NSRI commended Azhar for his swift and brave actions, as well as the eyewitness who raised the alarm.
Sources: NSRI
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