Two surfers saved a British father and his two teenagers after they were caught in rip currents in Plettenberg Bay on Thursday.
Two local surfers, Jock Kannemeyer and Andy Fermor, believed to be aged in their 40’s, who were nearby at the time noticed the three swimmers in trouble and they launched their surfboards to go to their assistance.
The surfers reached the three casualties, about 100 meters off-shore, and placed the father and son on the surfboards. The surfers held onto the young woman keeping her afloat, while keeping all of them together and afloat behind the breaker line.
“Rip currents were too strong to try to get them to the beach and the surfers were aware that NSRI had been activated so they kept the three swimmers safe and calm using the two surfboards for flotation behind the breaker line‚” he said.
“NSRI rescue swimmers were deployed into the surf and they began to assist the casualties towards the beach through the surf line and then wading them ashore once they were closer to the beach.
“One surfer and his board was taken aboard a sea rescue craft and brought to shore.”
They were reunited with the mother once they were all back on the beach.
NSRI transported them to hospital for medical care. The father showed signs of exhaustion and near drowning symptoms and he was treated at hospital and observed for secondary drowning symptoms but is expected to fully recover.
“The two teenagers were not injured but as a precaution they were taken to hospital with their dad‚” said Rodgers. “The mother was on the beach during the incident.”
The holidaymakers are believed to be from the north-eastern English city of Newcastle upon Tyne.
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