Fish Hoek lifeguards rescued a 10-year-old child and an adult on Sunday afternoon after both were caught in a dangerous rip current and swept out to sea.
According to a statement by Lifesaving SA the incident occurred at approximately 16:00 on 21 December when the child was caught in the rip current. An adult family friend attempted to assist but was also caught in the powerful current.
On-duty lifeguards Amber van der Byl, Kate Becker, Rogan Krog, and Nikolas Balden immediately responded, swimming out with Rescue Tube Buoys and reaching both individuals before they submerged.
Both patients were safely brought to shore, assessed by the lifeguard team, and advised to seek further medical evaluation at a hospital.
Local lifeguards praised
Dhaya Sewduth, media director of Lifesaving South Africa, praised the Fish Hoek duty squad for their swift and decisive actions in safely rescuing the two individuals and reuniting them with their families.
“These patients were fortunate to be swimming at a lifeguarded beach. This incident reinforces the critical message that bathers should only swim at beaches where lifeguards are on duty and during designated duty hours. Entering the water at unpatrolled beaches places lives at unnecessary risk,” Sewduth said.
Weekend drowning incidents nationwide
The successful Fish Hoek rescue came during a weekend that saw multiple drowning incidents across South Africa, with at least four fatalities reported. Severe flooding in KwaZulu-Natal contributed to rising drowning statistics, whilst incidents at unguarded beaches highlighted ongoing safety concerns.
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