More than 103 lives have been saved by the National Sea Rescue Institutes’ (NSRI’s) Pink Rescue Buoys since inception in 2017.
Late last month, the NSRI celebrated its 100th life saved by the floating device.
According to the organisation, it has more than 1 100 buoys stationed at beaches, dams and rivers across the country.
The NSRI says the pivotal role a floatation device plays in rescuing a drowning victim is often overlooked and having these devices freely available for public use makes a massive impact in the country.
Dr Jill Fortuin, NSRI’s Executive Director for Drowning Prevention, says that since the inception of the buoy initiative in November more than four years ago, they know of at least 103 lives rescued with their innovative floatation devices.
Fortuin says this number excludes any incidences where the buoys were successfully used and replaced without the NSRI being informed that the rescue took place.
She says the success of this initiative is overwhelming evidence that supports the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) 2017 report on preventing drowning – an implementation guide.
“The WHO stated in this report that all citizens should be taught safe peer rescue techniques (such as throwing or using a floatation device) and should be taught how to do CPR, which is what the NSRI has been doing since our water safety education programme started in 2006.”
According to Fortuin, all rescues that have been attempted with a Pink Rescue Buoy have been successful and no harm has come to any rescuers. She says this is what evidence from similar programmes worldwide have also shown.
“We have noticed that most incidents where Pink Buoys are used are when people are caught in rip currents. Making it crucial for beachgoers to understand why they should swim where lifeguards are on duty and know how to spot a rip current.”
Mardus Strydom, who recently had a near death experience, says he would not be here today if it wasn’t for a group of brave beach goers and a lifeguard who came to his rescue with the help of a Pink Rescue Buoy.
Strydom recently moved to Cape Town. He says he was enjoying a swim at Clifton’s 4th Beach and quickly lost track of time. He says he stayed in the water for longer than the recommended time.
“I got cold a lot faster than I realised; by the time I wanted to paddle out I already had hypothermia. Two people came to my aid and grabbed a pink buoy. The rip current was quite bad as well. If they didn’t have the pink buoy, it would’ve been a different story. I held onto it, big waves came and crushed all of us. But I held on, and we were all able to swim back to shore.”
He says the pink buoy was “pivotal” in saving his life.
Strydom describes his rescue as a divine intervention.
“There was a moment when my arms and legs didn’t want to work, and I thought to myself I don’t know if I am going to make it out here alive. I’ve been in an aeroplane accident, a car accident, hijacked, but this is the first time I ever recall thinking I wasn’t going to make it. I believe the Holy Spirit spoke to Sarah Oberholzer and got her to come over and ask me whether I was okay. If it wasn’t for her and the others, I wouldn’t be here.”
To express his gratefulness to his rescuers, Strydom, with the help of other donors, donated about R50 000 to the NSRI.
“I heard that the pink buoy I was rescued with was sponsored by a woman whose son drowned. I asked them what the cost of the pink buoys are. I said I will sponsor five. A few other people indicated that they would match my donation, a company in Pretoria donated as well. We managed to all come up with about R50 000.
Andrew Ingram, NSRI Drowning Prevention Manager, remembers a drowning incident where a Pink Rescue Buoy was used 12 hours after it was installed at Glencairn Beach in Simon’s Town a few months ago.
“It was early on a hot Saturday morning when Franswa Fernandez and his partner Alicia Adriaanse decided to take a walk before swimming. When they were heading back Franswa noticed a rip current and how people in the water were still swimming even though it didn’t look safe to him. Within seconds, he saw one of the youngsters being pulled out to sea in the rip which he describes as ‘running like a steam train’. Fernandez, a former professional and volunteer lifeguard, immediately noticed the Pink Rescue Buoy.”
Ingram explains: “His experience kicked in; he grabbed the buoy and ran into the water. He let the rip take him out to where the youngster was. Then he rescue-swam the youngster towards the rocks at Simon’s Town side of the beach.”
Ingram says they have had many cases where the life saving device was stolen and urges the public to refrain from doing so. “By stealing a Pink Buoy, you could cost somebody their life and it could be your friend and your family member. A few of the Pink Buoys have a tracker inside them so when it’s taken, we can see from our emergency operation centre exactly where it is. So far, we have retrieved two. One at Sea Point and one at Strand, both were dumped, so we didn’t find the person who had taken them.”
Fortuin reminds people that swim at beaches, dams and rivers to look out for the NSRI’s Pink Rescue Buoys which are always placed above the high-water mark.
