An NSRI pink sea rescue buoy.
Image: Henk Kruger/Independent Newspapers
A local man has been lauded after leaving his coffee stand at Kommetjie Beach and springing into action to help rescue two teens caught in a rip current.
Eyewitnesses had reported two teenagers appearing to be in distress in the surf zone at Kommetjie Beach, between Sunset Reef and Long Beach on Friday afternoon, the NSRI said.
“Good Samaritan Dylan Rattray, age 24, from Kommetjie, while working at his coffee stand at Kommetjie Beach, was drawn to a commotion on the beach.
“The local food shop owner was attempting to call NSRI to raise the alarm while an unidentified male Good Samaritan had grabbed an NSRI pink rescue buoy from its pole at Kommetjie Beach, and he was wading into the water towards the two teenagers (aged 16 and 17) - who by that stage could clearly be seen to be in distress appearing to be caught in rip currents,” the NSRI said.
Rattray grabbed a second NSRI pink rescue buoy from its pole and entered the water.
“Dylan, armed with one NSRI pink rescue buoy, took the second NSRI pink rescue buoy from the man, who was by that stage wading waist deep in the water.
“Armed with both NSRI pink rescue buoys Dylan swam towards the teenagers where he handed a pink rescue buoy to the 17-year-old.”
The 17-year-old used the buoy to get towards the shoreline where a member of the public helped him to the beach.
“Armed with the second NSRI pink rescue buoy Dylan reached the second teenager, in the surf zone, and using the NSRI pink rescue buoy for floatation, Dylan rescued the 16-year-old safely to the beach - helped by the male unidentified Good Samaritan once they reached waist deep water.”
They were met on the beach by NSRI rescue swimmers and paramedics.
NSRI commended Rattray and those who helped bring the teenagers to safety, adding that NSRI pink rescue buoys are responsible for contributing to 256 lives saved by bystander Good Samaritan rescues since the inception of the program in 2017.
“No harm has come to bystanders using the NSRI pink rescue buoys in these bystander Good Samaritan rescues.”