Beachgoers, NSRI pink rescue buoy to the rescue again

What could have been a Christmas Day beach drowning tragedy in Port Alfred was averted thanks to quick action by beachgoers and a NSRI pink rescue buoy. By responding immediately, two Durban visitors saved a man from being washed out to sea by a rip current at Kelly’s Beach.

NSRI Port Alfred station commander Gerrit Cloete said at 7.45am on Thursday, 25 December, the NSRI Port Alfred duty crew were activated: an NSRI Port Alfred crewman, who happened to be at the scene at the time, reported a drowning in progress at Kelly’s Beach, Port Alfred. NSRI rescue swimmers, the NSRI rescue vehicle, Gardmed ambulance service, Ndlambe Municipal lifeguards and the South African Police Service responded.

A local man, 29, had arrived in a bus as part of a group planning to spend the day on the beach. He entered the water and almost immediately appeared to get into distress. He’d been caught in a rip current.

A couple, from Durban, staying with family in Port Alfred, had been speaking to him earlier and saw what was happening. The husband entered the water to help him and his wife followed soon after with the NSRI pink rescue buoy that is stationed at Kelly’s Beach. A third person also came to help.

The three of them, assisted by the NSRI pink rescue buoy, were able to get the man safely on to the beach.

The NSRI, police and lifeguards arrived and Gardmed paramedics treated him and took him to hospital in a stable condition for observation for non-fatal drowning symptoms.

The NSRI commended the good Samaritans for their efforts that had contributed to saving the man’s  life.

NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said NSRI pink rescue buoys, stationed around South Africa in cooperation with municipalities, had been responsible for saving the lives of 231 people in bystander rescues since the programme’s inception in 2017.

“No harm has come to any of the bystander rescuers using an NSRI pink rescue buoy to aid in a rescue,” Lambinon said.