Rescue swimmers, bystanders hailed for saving 9 people caught in rip currents

THE heroics of NSRI rescue swimmers and bystander Good Samaritans helped avert what could have turned into a tragedy when a group of teenagers and two parents celebrating a birthday were caught in rip currents at Kleinmond main beach.

NSRI Kleinmond station commander Schalk Boonzaaier said NSRI Kleinmond duty crew were alerted to reports of a mass drowning in progress at Kleinmond Main Beach at around 3pm on Sunday.

NSRI Kleinmond rescue swimmers, police, WC Government Health EMS, Overstrand Law Enforcement and Overstrand Fire and Rescue Services responded while the NSRI rescue craft JetRIB was launched.

“On arrival on the scene it was determined that seven teenagers, and two adults (a mom and dad of some of the children) were caught in rip currents and in distress in the surf zone.

“It appears that the teenagers, all aged 13, were attending a 13th birthday celebration, when they were caught in rip currents while swimming. A mom and dad had entered the water to assist when they were caught in sea currents.” 

The group was separated from each other attempting to stay afloat and caught in sea currents in and beyond the surf zone, Boonzaaier said.

“NSRI rescue swimmers and two male bystander Good Samaritans, using five NSRI pink rescue buoys stationed at Kleinmond Main Beach, and assisted by the NSRI Kleinmond rescue craft JetRIB, that was launched on the scene while rescue swimmers and the 2 Good Samaritans were rescuing casualties towards the shoreline, rescued all nine people from the surf zone, bringing all the casualties to the beach,” Boonzaaier said. 

Everyone was medically assessed by paramedics with some displaying  non-fatal drowning symptoms. All were released on the scene into the care of parents.

Cape Times