At 08h33, Friday, 25th September, NSRI Bakoven duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) reporting a drowning in progress at Queens Beach, Sea Point (in front of the Protea Hotel President).
Eye-witnesses reported that a fully clothed man was being swept out to sea.
NSRI Bakoven prepared to launch a sea rescue craft while Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, a Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services rescue dive unit, ER24 ambulance services, the SA Police Services, WC Government Health EMS rescue squad, and Law Enforcement responded.
While responding to the scene an eye-witness, who is known to the 38 year old victim, reported that the patient was safely out of the water after being rescued from the water by a bystander and that although he was safe he was injured and required medical care.
On arrival on-scene ER24 ambulance services confirmed to NSRI that the man was out of the water and that he was receiving medical attention from Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services paramedics and ER24 paramedics.
The 38 year old patient, from Limpopo, was transported to hospital by ER24 ambulance in a stable condition for observation for secondary drowning and for treatment for near drowning symptoms.
It is unknown what caused the patient, who is believed to be attending a conference in Cape Town, to go into the water fully clothed.
It has been revealed that after the man was spotted in difficulty in the water a local homeless man, Thembinkosi Gqotso, who reportedly lives in the vicinity of Queens Beach, Sea Point, waded into the surf and successfully rescued the drowning man from the surf, managing to pull him safely onto the beach, before the emergency services arrived on the scene.
“Mr Gqotso is commended for his actions today.
