Salt Rock lifeguard to the rescue

Sixty-four-year-old British businessman Chris Blyth has found his guardian angel – a Salt Rock lifeguard.

Blyth and his partner were visiting Salt Rock beach last Tuesday, February 11, when he dived into the sea between the beacons, thinking the water was perfectly safe as other people were swimming and several surfers were riding the waves at backline.

What began as a comfortable swim in the sea soon became a struggle, when he realised he had been swept further from the shore than he was comfortable with.

“Fortunately the lifeguard on duty, Linda Hlophe, was alert enough to realise that I was possibly in danger of being swept away by the rip current,” the tourist told the Courier.

Hlope ran into the sea and swam towards Blyth. He soon reached the floundering swimmer and instructed him to hang on to the buoyancy aid. He then swam back to shore with Blyth in tow.

Blyth said later that at the time, he did not fully appreciate the seriousness of the situation, or how much danger he was in due to the strong rip current on Salt Rock beach.

The rough seas along the Dolphin Coast this month have claimed two lives, at Willard beach and at Christmas Bay.

“I owe my life to Linda. I went back the next day and thanked him for his prompt action and for realising in time that I was in danger of being swept away,” said Blyth, who is currently visiting Kruger Park.

However he believes more prominent notices should be displayed along the beaches warning swimmers of the dangerous rip currents.

“More lifeguards should be employed for longer periods of time as most people tend to use the beach late afternoon or early evening. Better beach safety needs to be implemented before any more lives are lost,” he said.