Young Strandfontein lifeguards hailed as heroes after responding to road collision

Strandfontein lifeguards have been lauded as heroes after they sprang into action at a horrific accident scene, calmly treating dozens of injured victims before emergency services arrived.

The drama unfolded on Tuesday evening following a head-on collision on Strandfontein Road between Baden Powell Drive and Spine Road.

Lifeguard Lisa Adams told Cape Argus sister publication, Daily Voice that she and her colleague Treasure Sanele Mkhasibe left the beach and were driving behind an Avanza that was involved in the accident.

She explains: “The guy swerved out and knocked into a pole. I stopped my car and we then ran to assist everyone and assessed the injuries first and then took the patients out one by one and started with the more severe injuries to the minor ones.”

Adams said after attempting to contact emergency services she called her head coach who was still at the beach.

Faiza Mohamed, said that her 8 year old daughter is a nipper lifeguard training under the Strandfontein lifeguards.

She explained that Adams and Mkhasibe had just finished their shift and immediately rushed to the scene. 

Mohamed said: “I was standing next to the head coach while we were getting our kids dressed and I could hear her shouting and screaming frantically over the phone like she was in some sort of panic.

“Luckily I was there with my bakkie and the head coach just looked at me and asked, ‘Aunty Faiza, can we just do this’ and I said of course and everyone just jumped on my bakkie with their first aid kits and we were basically the second people on the scene.”

When they arrived at the scene, they were greeted with a horrific sight as approximately 16 people were injured and 3 minors, however this was no mountain too big for the lifeguards to tackle as they calmly and professionally assessed and treated all injured individuals.

The mom said her daughter was left in shock, but was later fetched by her husband as they live close to the scene.

Mohamed adds: “These lifeguards were so coordinated and seeing these young people who are volunteers who don’t get paid applying their training into this situation was so unbelievable.

“They bandaged some, those who had broken arms and legs received splints. I was so surprised, there was even an oxygen tank that they brought with in case someone needed it and there was someone who needed it as they couldn’t breathe.”

“To see that what they put into practice on what they were trained, it spoke volumes as they took it very seriously, they take lifeguarding very seriously.

“I have done first aid myself, but I wouldn’t have been able to know what would be the first thing to do.”

She added that many people see lifeguards sitting on the beach without realising the vital work they do, often risking their own lives to save others.

Emergency services arrived at the scene after the lifeguards assisted the majority of the injured people.

Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel.

Cape Argus