Reghard Vorster has been hailed a hero for saving the life of a little girl who was near-drowning just hours after becoming a gold medalist!
Melkbosstrand, Cape Town (07 October 2024) – Reghard Voster, a 14-year-old gymnast, won a gold medal at the SA Trampoline Championship at the University of Cape Town. After becoming a gold medalist, Reghard went to relax poolside at a resort in Melkbosstrand on the West Coast.
He began swimming laps in the pool but before taking the plunge, he noticed a little girl nervously swimming in the smaller pool nearby. After he finished his swim, he climbed out and walked over to the smaller pool to see if it was warmer. As he walked over, he noticed the little girl was no longer swimming.
When Reghard got closer to the smaller pool, he saw that the little girl was, in fact, at the bottom of the pool. He ran as fast as he could, jumped in and quickly pulled her out.
“I went to the smaller pool to see if the water was warmer. I saw the girl at the bottom. At first, I thought she was playing, seeing how long she can stay under the water but then noticed she was not moving at all. Not even her feet were moving.”
With the help of the little girl’s brother, Reghard was able to pull her out of the water and start the process of resuscitating her. Reghard noticed a nearby wedding and sent the girl’s brother to go find out if there was a doctor. Thankfully, there was!
“The adrenaline took over. I immediately dived in. When I grabbed the girl, her body was totally limp. Her brother was on hand to help pull her onto the side of the pool. I knew she was in trouble, so I started doing cardiopulmonary resuscitation as I could feel no pulse.
“Not far from the pool there was a wedding going on. I told the brother to go there and find out whether there might be a doctor among the guests. Luckily there was.”
After the ordeal, Reghard had no idea how the little girl was doing. A few days later, he received news that she was recovering well. He was thankful to have the skills needed to save her life. He now hopes his story will inspire other teens to learn first aid.
“There is something special knowing that you were able to play a small part in helping save someone’s life. I am grateful for doing a first aid course last year during a Landsdiens Camp. If it were not for it, I possibly would not have been able to help the girl.
“Personally, I think it would be a good thing if more youngsters take the time to learn first aid as you never know when you are going to be faced with a life and death situation.”
If there is one thing to take away from Reghard’s story, it is to go enrol in a basic first aid course. Should this ever happen again, you could be the person to save a life.
Reghard is an inspiration and a deserving hero!
Sources: iol
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