Two surfers, an off-duty lifeguard manager, three doctors and emergency services helped in rescue efforts to save and resuscitate an adult Mozambican male who was caught in a deadly rip current at Buffalo Bay this week.
Buffalo Bay, South Africa (30 November 2025) – When the sea conditions were too rough for the official NSRI rescue craft to launch from the Knysna station, hope faded for a man drowning at Main Beach in Buffalo Bay.
But sometimes, the biggest waves also bring the biggest heroes.
While surfing at Buffalo Bay on Wednesday, 26 November, the surfers noticed an adult male in distress, caught in rip currents and disappearing underwater, in the surf zone.
They went to assist the man, reaching him and pulling him onto a surfboard, thereby bringing him closer to the shoreline.
A nearby off-duty NSRI lifeguard manager, who had been surfing at the time, responded after hearing a commotion in the surf zone and seeing the surfers engaged in rescue efforts.
“Our local NSRI lifeguard manager launched into the surf using his surfboard, reaching the two Good Samaritan surfers who had by then reached a submerged sandbank, where our NSRI lifeguard, assisted by the two surfers, successfully rescued the man to the beach,” said Jerome Simonis, NSRI Knysna station commander.
The lifeguard manager began medical care for the unresponsive casualty. He was assisted by three doctors who, fortunately, happened to be on the beach at the time. They were soon joined by NSRI crew and Police divers (WPDS), where oxygen was administered to the Mozambican man, believed to be in his 20s.
He was stabilised and transported to the hospital by EMS ambulance in a serious but stable condition, where he is now recovering under medical care.
“NSRI commend our off-duty NSRI lifeguard manager for his swift response in taking control of the scene, and we also commend the two Good Samaritan surfers, the three doctors, Police WPDS, NSRI crew, and the EMS paramedics, whose combined efforts contributed to saving the man’s life,” Simonis said.
Simonis further praised the collective efforts of all emergency services and the local lifeguards, who serve as the community’s first line of defence against drowning accidents.
Sources: NSRI
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