Three lives were saved from terrible rip currents in Sandstrand! After a family of three found themselves in trouble simultaneously, courageous surfers surged into action to help them alongside a legendary lifeguard and the NSRI heroes who made sure the family came home.
Jongensfontein, South Africa (06 January 2025) — On Friday, 3 January, a family of three up in Jongensfontein from Brits found themselves in trouble.
A nasty bout of rip currents had taken the family well offshore to the point where they could not return to shore on their own. Seemingly at risk of drowning, eyewitnesses made urgent calls to the NSRI Stilbaai for help.
The family consisted of mom, dad and their teenage daughter.
NSRI rescue swimmers and the Breede Rescuer craft were quickly rallied. Upon their arrival at the scene of distress, they saw that help was in motion already. Two courageous surfers had surged into the water on their way to lend their surfboards and support to the family of three nearly a kilometre offshore.
The NSRI rescue swimmers and an NSRI lifeguard, with torpedo rescue buoys, wasted no time in joining the surfers.
The family’s mother was unconscious in the water, but luckily, help had gotten to her in time. While she was propped up onto a surfboard, the other family members held onto the second surfboard to keep afloat.
Under the careful watch of the surfers, rescue swimmers and the lifeguard, the family were monitored until the Breede Rescuer reached them.
Aboard the Rescuer (which got to them at around a kilometre offshore), the mother regained consciousness and received medical treatment while still on the vessel.
Back at base, at last, more medical treatment was given before a family reunion like no other happened as the younger daughter of the family, who was in great distress, joined her sister, mom and dad.
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Heartwarmingly, it was a kind stranger who had gotten the younger daughter back to her family at the NSRI rescue base in Goodwill. The family were then sent to receive medical care at local doctors’ rooms.
Talk about a happy ending to bring back home to Brits!
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