A 50-year-old man and a 19-year-old teenager jumped into action after seeing a young fisherman swept off the rocks and pulled out to sea.
Herolds Bay, South Africa (31 October 2020) – Two brothers were fishing on the rocks when one of them was swept into the surf and pulled out to sea by rip currents, and the other dived in to help him but found himself battling to keep his head above the water.
The two brothers aged 19 and 21 were fishing on the rocks at Herold’s Bay when the 21-year-old was swept off the rocks by waves into the surf and pulled out to sea by rip currents. His brother ran to collect the NSRI pink rescue buoy at Herold’s Bay beach and proceeded back along the rocks before launching into the water using the rescue buoy for floatation to go to attempt to help his brother.
“At 08h46, Friday, 23 October, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Herolds Bay,” Mike Vonk, NSRI Wilderness deputy station commander explained.
The sea rescue craft Oscars Rescue was towed to Herolds Bay by WC Government Health EMS rescue squad, and NSRI rescue swimmers responded directly to the scene.
On arrival on the scene, the two swimmers who had been in difficulty in the surf were safely out the water, and they were treated on the scene by ER24 paramedics for non-fatal drowning symptoms and cuts and abrasions sustained from the rocks on the shoreline.
It was revealed that two hero bystanders raised the alarm and activated Sea Rescue.
After witnessing the events, a local man, aged 50, and a local teenager aged 19 had launched into the water using body boards and fins. The man reached the older brother and brought him safely ashore using his bodyboard as flotation.
The younger brother reached the shore using the pink rescue buoy for floatation.
The brothers were transported to hospital by ER24 ambulance, and they are expected to make full recoveries.
NSRI commend the swift reaction of the hero bystanders who assisted.
**All parties involved in the incident wish to remain anonymous.
Sources: NSRI
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