Two off-duty crew members of the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) and two Mossel Bay Municipality (MBM) lifeguards reacted immediately after two local males were swept out to sea in Mossel Bay on Sunday morning, reports Cape {town} Etc.
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According to NSRI, the two off-duty members were attending a local endurance event when they noticed two local males getting caught in rip currents and being swept out to see through the surf zone between De Bakke Santos and Dias Beach.
The two men, aged 63 and 19, were caught in rip currents during a baptism that it is believed they may have been attending.
‘The two NSRI rescue swimmers and two MBM lifeguards reached the casualties about 50 metres off-shore in the surf zone. Lifeguards free-dived underwater to recover the 19-year-old who had disappeared underwater,’ reported NSRI.
‘Together, the MBM lifeguards and the NSRI rescue swimmers brought both casualties out of the water, safely to the shoreline, where, once on the beach, medical treatment commenced for non-fatal drowning symptoms.’
NSRI added that the 63-year-old man required no further medical attention and was released after being assessed by paramedics, while the 19-year-old was transported to a nearby hospital in a stable condition for observation.
In light of the incident, the rescue organisation, alongside lifeguards, police and emergency services, issued a safety alert appealing to individual and group beachgoers to be cautious when entering the water.
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‘NSRI, lifeguards, police and emergency services are appealing to group visitors to beaches (schools, churches, sports teams, corporate functions) and bathers to know tide times, attend beaches protected by lifeguards and to not venture too deep into the water,’ said NSRI.
‘Know emergency numbers (NSRI: 112 or 087 094 9774). Rip currents form constantly at different places along the shoreline throughout the day and night, and bathers should always be alert to rip currents while in the surf zone.’
How to navigate yourself when caught in rip currents
- Don’t panic.
- Stay afloat by treading water – moving your arms and legs in circular movements – and using the air in your lungs for added buoyancy.
- As difficult as it sounds, go with the current and stay afloat – do not try to swim against the current, it will only tire you out.
- Shout for help (bystanders on the beach should call NSRI and continue to monitor where the casualties are in the water).
- At your first opportunity, swim across the beachfront until you are free of the rip current.
- Use the incoming waves to get back to shore.
- Where NSRI pink buoys are stationed along the beach, bystanders should throw it towards the casualties in the water.
‘Parents must ensure that their children have responsible adult supervision in and around water,’ concluded NSRI.
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