Two bodyboarders and beachgoers assisted the NSRI in rescuing a mother and daughter from Villiersdorp who landed in trouble in the ocean while on a holiday in Anchorage in Witsand.
Tertius Josephs, NSRI Witsand commander, reports that the NSRI Witsand duty crew were alerted to a drowning in progress at about 11:45 on Tuesday 4 April.
An NSRI rescue swimmer as well as the NSRI rescue vehicle responded directly to the scene while the duty crew prepared to launch the rescue craft Rescue 33 Alpha.
Josephs reported that the mother of the teenager who was caught in difficult rip currents also got into difficulty after she entered the water to try and rescue her child.
“On arrival on the scene the NSRI rescue swimmer attempted to reach the female teenager caught in strong rip currents,” Josephs stated. “The NSRI rescue swimmer appealed to two men in the vicinity with body boards to assist. Additional members of the public also entered the water to assist.”
The NSRI commended the bodyboarders and members of the public who managed to rescue the mother and daughter and take them safely to the beach.
“The mother, 49, and her daughter, 16, on holiday from Villiersdorp, showed non-fatal drowning signs and symptoms. The NSRI transported both of them, in stable conditions, to a doctor in Heidelberg where the teenager was released following medical treatment. The mother was transported to hospital by WC Government Health EMS ambulance, in a stable condition, for further medical treatment,” said Josephs.
The NSRI Witsand duty crew, assisted by NSRI Still Bay and NSRI Agulhas, responded to another incident on Friday 31 March after a catamaran motor boat with two men on board capsised at The Bar, off-shore of the Breede River Mouth.
Josephs reported that the rescue craft 33 Alpha was launched.
One of the men was rescued and taken to shore while the search for the other man continued.
“Our NSRI rescue craft continued in a search and the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter was activated by Metro EMS control. The missing man was located and recovered onto the NSRI rescue craft at sea. He was not injured and once safely ashore he required no further assistance,” Josephs explained.
The casualty boat later washed up on the shoreline.
