Heroic rescue at Wilderness Beach: Surfer saves man from drowning

A 29-year-old man from Upington was rescued from rough seas at Wilderness Beach on Tuesday night after eyewitnesses reported two swimmers in distress, prompting a multi-agency response.

According to Jonathan Britton, station commander at the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Wilderness station, duty crews were activated at 7.37pm following reports of a drowning in progress at Lientjiesklip.

An NSRI rescue swimmer and coxswain, who were near the Wilderness station’s rescue base at the time, responded immediately. A rescue craft was prepared for launch while a rescue swimmer headed to the scene on a quad bike. Additional NSRI rescue swimmers and crew members were also mobilised.

Emergency services were alerted, including Western Cape Government Health EMS, George Fire and Rescue Services, the South African Police Service, NSRI lifeguards, George Municipal lifeguards and ER24.

Eyewitnesses reported that two men were struggling in the water. One swimmer appeared to be trying to reach nearby rocks, while the other was caught in rip currents and being swept further out to sea.

A local surfer, later identified as Cade Harris, noticed the swimmers getting into difficulty and paddled out on his surfboard to assist. By the time rescuers arrived, one local man, aged 26, had managed to reach the rocks and get to shore without help.

Despite heavy swells, rough sea conditions and dumping shore-break waves, the surfer reached the second swimmer, who was exhausted, slipping under the water and barely conscious. Harris managed to get the man onto his surfboard, keeping him afloat and guiding him to a sandbank.

A former lifeguard then entered the water with an NSRI pink rescue buoy. Working together with an NSRI rescue swimmer, the group used the surfboard and buoy to bring the casualty safely to the beach. NSRI lifeguards, George Fire and Rescue Services and municipal lifeguards assisted in the shallow surf to get the man ashore.

Once on the beach, NSRI medics, lifeguards and fire services paramedics began treating the man for non-fatal drowning symptoms. His condition was described as serious. Metro EMS and ER24 paramedics later joined the rescue teams, and the man was transported to hospital by ER24 ambulance.

He was discharged on Wednesday morning after receiving treatment from doctors and nurses.

Britton said the quick actions of the surfer and the coordinated response by rescue and emergency services were critical in preventing a fatality.

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Cape Argus