Several bystanders on Eerste Rivier Beach in Tsitsikamma aided two teens that had been swept up by rough seas; each played a vital role in saving their lives.
Tsitsikamma, South Africa (14 December 2022) – Lodewyk van Rensburg, the station commander at the Oyster Bay NSRI shared the story of how a beachgoer contributed towards saving two teens from a very serious rip current.
The Eerste Rivier Beach in Tsitsikamma was shrouded in dense fog, hiding rough seas and dangerous rip currents over the weekend. The NSRI Oyster Bay duty crew were activated following reports from Fire and Rescue Services of a drowning in progress. The call said that two teens had been pulled into the rough seas and were struggling to stay afloat.
The 13-year-old young lady and the 15-year-old young man had been in the water when she was swept away. He had tried to rescue her and was also caught in the rip current. People walking along the beach tried to assist by throwing in various floatation devices, including the beach’s NSRI Pink Buoy and bodyboards.
The young lady managed to grab hold of the pink buoy but as she was growing tired, she was losing her grip. As bystanders were making an effort to help, former Navy diver, 66-year-old Simon Bekker led the first rescue attempt. He swam towards the young lady but was separated as he was pulling her to shore, he then made his way to the young man, who was getting dangerously close to the rocks. He could not get close enough and had to head back to the shoreline.
Jan Bester, from Jeffreys Bay, was handed flippers. He was able to get to the young lady as she was slipping under the water. Using the NSRI pink buoy she was holding, he was able to swim her safely to shore. NSRI Oyster Bay’s Jaen Smit arrived on the scene where he initiated medical treatment for the girl who was initially unconscious and not breathing. While doing so, Jan ran for his car so they could get the young lady to the ambulance.
The focus on saving the young man was now a priority. Thankfully, a family slightly further away had heard and decided to help.
“Good Samaritans Fanus Kruger, a local, and his family, his son Pieter and 15-year-old grandson Steph, who are visiting from Rustenberg, at home nearby at Skuitbaai, were alerted by Franette Bekker to the unfolding drama.
They raced down to the Skuitbaai launch site where Pieter and Steph launched a jet-ski. They were approximately a nautical mile from where the incident was unfolding and despite dense fog and rough seas they reached the scene where they initiated a search.
In the dense fog and rough seas and close to rocks they reached the male teenager who was holding onto a bodyboard. He was showing signs of extreme exhaustion and disappearing underwater at times.
On reaching him Pieter reversed the jet-ski towards him in the breaking surf, keeping the bow of the jet-ski facing into the breaking surf and narrowly avoiding making contact with the jagged rocks.
Steph was able to grab a hold of the front end of the bodyboard that the casualty was holding onto while Pieter gently manoeuvred the jet-ski through the breaking surf and they were able to pull the casualty out of the danger zone.”
They were able to pull the young man onto the jet-ski and get him to the paramedics. Both teens were in serious condition but have since been released from the hospital and are recovering well.
“NSRI commend everyone involved for their combined community effort that contributed to saving the lives of the 2 teenagers.”
The NSRI will be working hard this festive season to save as many lives as possible. If you will be near open bodies of water (including the pool) check out these safety tips from the NSRI.
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