When a typical Friday at the coast took a dangerous turn, local barista Dylan Rattray and a vigilant bystander grabbed nearby rescue buoys to save two teens caught in a rip current.
Kommetjie Beach, South Africa (18 March 2026) – On Friday, 13 March, Dylan Rattray was working at his coffee stand at Kommetjie Beach when a commotion caught his attention. Eyewitnesses pointed toward the surf, where two young males appeared to be in distress.
While the local coffee shop owner called the NSRI to raise the alarm, an unidentified man grabbed a pink rescue buoy from its pole and launched into the water. By then, the teenagers were clearly struggling, appearing to be caught in a rip current.
Dylan proceeded to grab another pink rescue buoy and entered the water to assist the teenagers. Noticing the wading waist-deep in the water, Dylan then took the second rescue buoy from him.
Armed with both buoys, Dylan swam toward the teenagers and handed one to the 17-year-old. Using the buoy’s flotation, the teenager managed to reach the shoreline, where the unidentified Good Samaritan helped him safely onto the beach.
Dylan reached the second teenager in the surf zone. He rescued the 16-year-old safely to the beach and was helped by the unidentified male once they reached waist-deep water.
“They were met on the beach by NSRI rescue swimmers and CMR paramedics, who found that both teenagers were safe on the beach after being rescued by the Good Samaritans. They were medically assessed and required no further assistance,” says NSRI Communications Manager Craig Lambinon.
NSRI commend Dylan Rattray and the unidentified male for their efforts that contributed to saving the lives of the two teenagers.
“NSRI pink rescue buoys are responsible for contributing to 256 lives saved in bystander rescues since the inception of the rescue buoy program in 2017. No harm has come to bystanders using the NSRI pink rescue buoys in these bystander Good Samaritan rescues.”
NSRI appeals to the public to help safeguard the pink rescue buoys that are stationed around the coastline, and that should only be removed from their poles in critical life-saving rescues.
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