A peaceful day in Ballito took a turn for the hectic. However, thanks to brave Samaritans in the coastal region, a young life was saved.
Ballito, South Africa (14 July, 2023) — Earlier this week, young beach-goers saw their peaceful day in Ballito take a turn for the hectic.
While enjoying a day of boarding the water in the Ballito surf (because Kwa-Zulu Natal and winter hardly know each other), the youngsters got caught up in suspected rip currents.
Rip currents are nasty ocean encounters that, if not handled with knowledge or experience, can be one of the most unpleasant and life-threatening sea experiences around.
While three teens were able to make their escape, one 16-year-old girl remained caught up.
Realising her water struggle, one of the teenage boys attempted to help her but ended up getting caught up once again himself.
Luckily, the girl’s father, her uncle and an anonymous beach Samaritan were quick to lend a pink buoy to the rescue with the brave stranger among them ready to put his own safety at risk to help the young girl.
The rescue plan was soon set in motion. The stranger braced the water and managed to help the girl out, while her uncle assisted her attempted rescuer. The girl’s father, a doctor, made sure everyone got out safely.
By the time the NSRI arrived at the scene, paramedics were already there and the rescue had been a speedy success!
Moral of the story? Pink Buoys and bravery matter, but tread rip currents with caution!
“This brings the number of people that we know of who have been rescued with the help of a Pink Buoy to 152. All in-water rescues have been successful and no harm has come to any of the rescuers who have used a Pink Buoy to help someone in danger of drowning,” shared the NSRI.