Michael Markovina, NSRI Kleinmond coxswain, said: At 13h08, Saturday, 21 March, NSRI Kleinmond duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Kleinmond Main Beach.
Having returned to our NSRI Kleinmond station 42 rescue base, following routine training exercises with NSRI Hermanus and NSRI Gordons Bay, our NSRI rescue swimmers and our NSRI rescue vehicle responded immediately.
WC Government Health EMS and Overstrand Law Enforcement were activated and responded.
On arrival on the scene it was found a 21 year old male, from Stellenbosch, was caught in rip currents.
2 friends, male Good Samaritans, one with a body board and one with an NSRI pink rescue buoy, were assisting the casualty in the surf zone.
An NSRI rescue swimmer launched into the surf and assisted the 2 Good Samaritans to rescue the casualty to the beach.
The casualty, hypothermic and showing signs and symptoms of non-fatal drowning, was provided medical treatment by NSRI medics on the beach and they were joined on the scene by EMS paramedics.
Following medical care provided on the beach, in the care of the EMS paramedics, the patient was transported to hospital by EMS ambulance in a stable condition and he is expected to make a full recovery.
It appears that during a Stellenbosch church outing, while visiting Kleinmond, the casualty was swimming during an incoming Spring high tide when he was caught in strong rip currents.
The 2 Good Samaritans are commended for having the floatation devices, the body board and the NSRI pink rescue buoy, and for their efforts that contributed to a life saved.
NSRI pink rescue buoys are responsible for contributing to 257 lives saved in bystander Good Samaritan rescues using NSRI pink rescue buoys in bystander rescues – since the inception of the NSRI pink rescue buoy program in 2017.
No harm has come to public members using the NSRI pink rescue buoys in bystander Good Samaritan rescues.
NSRI are appealing to the public to help us to safeguard the NSRI pink rescue buoys that are stationed around the coastline.
NSRI pink rescue buoys should only be removed from their poles in critical life saving rescues.
