A swift and co-ordinated effort by surfers, an off-duty lifeguard, doctors and emergency services saved the life of a young Mozambican man caught in a powerful rip current at Buffalo Bay on Wednesday.

Knysna-Plett Herald reports that, according to Jerome Simonis, station commander of National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Knysna, rescue crews were activated at 12:47 following reports of a drowning in progress at Buffalo Bay’s main beach.

Rough sea conditions at the Knysna Heads made it too dangerous to launch a rescue vessel, prompting NSRI crew, lifeguards, provincial EMS paramedics, and Police Water Policing and Diving Services (WPDS) divers to respond by road.

Before rescuers arrived, two local surfers noticed the man – believed to be in his 20s – struggling in the surf before disappearing beneath the water. The pair paddled toward him, managed to pull him onto a surfboard, and guided him toward a shallow sandbank.

In a press statement issued by NSRI communications officer Craig Lambinon, it was confirmed that an off-duty NSRI lifeguard manager, who had been surfing nearby, heard the commotion and rushed to help while simultaneously raising the alarm.

“He reached the surfers in the water and, together, the three men managed to bring the victim safely to shore,” the statement read.

By the time they reached the beach, the man was unresponsive. The off-duty lifeguard immediately began medical treatment and was soon assisted by three doctors who happened to be on the beach at the time. NSRI crew members and police divers joined the effort, administering oxygen and helping stabilise the man, who was suffering from severe non-fatal drowning symptoms.

EMS paramedics continued treatment on arrival before transporting the man to hospital in a serious but stable condition. He is recovering under medical care.

Simonis commended the rapid, collaborative response: “The swift actions of the off-duty NSRI lifeguard, the two Good Samaritan surfers, the doctors, our NSRI crew, Police WPDS divers, and EMS paramedics all played a vital role in saving this man’s life.”

With the festive season underway, the NSRI once again urges beachgoers to remain vigilant and to swim only in areas supervised by lifeguards. The organisation emphasised that its volunteers – on duty 24/7 – rely on public support to continue their lifesaving work.

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