Good Samaritans battled rip currents to save a life at Kleinmond Beach
Good Samaritans and NSRI rescue a 21-year-old man caught in rip currents at Kleinmond Main Beach, he is expected to recover.
Image: Supplied
A 21-year-old man from Stellenbosch is expected to make a full recovery after being rescued from rip currents at Kleinmond Main Beach on Saturday afternoon, following a coordinated effort involving bystanders and the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI).
NSRI Kleinmond coxswain Michael Markovina said the incident unfolded at 1:08pm on Saturday, March 21, when duty crews were activated following reports of a drowning in progress.
The team had just returned to Station 42 after routine training exercises with NSRI Hermanus and NSRI Gordons Bay when rescue swimmers and a response vehicle were dispatched. Western Cape Government Health EMS and Overstrand Law Enforcement also responded.
On arrival, rescuers found the man in the surf zone after being caught in strong rip currents.
“Two friends, Good Samaritans, one with a body board and one with an NSRI pink rescue buoy, were assisting the casualty in the surf,” Markovina said.
An NSRI rescue swimmer entered the water and assisted the two bystanders in bringing the man safely back to shore.
The patient was found to be hypothermic and showing signs consistent with non-fatal drowning. NSRI medics initiated treatment on the beach before EMS paramedics took over his care. He was transported to hospital in a stable condition.
“It appears that during a Stellenbosch church outing, while visiting Kleinmond, the casualty was swimming during an incoming spring high tide when he was caught in strong rip currents,” Markovina said.
The NSRI commended the two bystanders for their actions, noting that the use of flotation devices, including a body board and a pink rescue buoy, contributed significantly to keeping the man afloat until help arrived.
According to the NSRI, its pink rescue buoy programme has contributed to 257 lives saved in bystander rescues since its introduction in 2017, with no reported harm to members of the public using the devices during emergencies.
The organisation has appealed to the public to safeguard the equipment stationed along the coastline.
“NSRI pink rescue buoys should only be removed from their poles in critical life-saving rescues,” Markovina said.
The incident highlights the risks associated with rip currents, particularly during high tide, and the role that quick action and accessible safety equipment can play in preventing tragedy.