Volunteer crew members from the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Gordon’s Bay successfully saved a 47-year-old woman from drowning after she was swept off the rocks at the R44 Clarence Drive Lookout Point on Tuesday evening, Cape {town} Etc reports.
The incident unfolded shortly after 6:18pm, triggering a coordinated response that involved multiple emergency services.
According to Roan Strydom, the NSRI Gordons Bay duty coxswain, the alarm was raised by a friend of the victim who reported that her companion had been overwhelmed by waves while the two were taking a leisurely walk along the scenic coastal lookout.
The urgency of the situation escalated as the woman, clad in her wet clothing, struggled to stay afloat in the turbulent waters.
Strydom recounted that while the NSRI team was being mobilised, he instructed the caller to encourage the woman to float on her back, a crucial piece of advice aimed at keeping her head above water during the harrowing ordeal.
As the NSRI Emergency Operations Centre activated local authorities, including the City of Cape Town water rescue network, the response quickly accelerated with police, medics, and a dedicated rescue crew rushing to the scene.
Upon arrival, NSRI shore crew and GB Med response paramedics swiftly pinpointed the woman, who was fighting to keep her head above the surf.
The NSRI rescue vessel, Spirit of Surfski, reached her just in time, enabling the crew to pull her to safety. Immediate medical treatment commenced onboard, addressing symptoms of hypothermia and non-fatal drowning.
Once safely aboard the rescue craft, the team swiftly transported the woman back to the NSRI rescue base for continued medical attention.
GB Med paramedics were on standby, ready to assist as the woman was transferred via ambulance to a local hospital. Thankfully, she is now recovering in a serious but stable condition, with medical staff optimistic for her full recovery.
Strydom commended the efforts of both the woman, who valiantly fought to remain afloat despite the overwhelming challenges posed by her soaked clothing, and her friend, whose quick thinking and adherence to emergency instructions were instrumental in alerting the authorities.
He emphasised the critical role played by the NSRI volunteers and the emergency services, whose swift action saved a life in what could have been a tragic outcome.
Be the first to know – Join our WhatsApp Channel for content worth tapping into! Click here to join!
Also read:
Gunmen strike again as three men murdered in Gordon’s Bay parking lot
Picture: National Sea Rescue Institute
