Trapped by high tides, holidaymakers tell all

The spring high tides on Monday afternoon caught a group of 11 holidaymakers at Thompson’s Bay off guard, trapping them on the rocky cliffs.

Massive waves prevented the beach-goers from getting back to the main beach through the ‘Hole in the Wall’.

Raymond van Katwijk from Johannesburg had gone down to Thompson’s Bay with his brother, Marcel.

“We went through the Hole in the Wall to the beach on the other side from about 2.30pm. We were just enjoying the waves and there was another group of eight people having a good time,” he said.

They noticed that the waves started to get really big and decided it was time to go back.

“We saw other people try to cross back through but the waves were too big, so we just all waited on the rocks not really knowing what to do,” said van Katwijk.

He said he had never seen waves that big.

“Luckily one of the other guys managed to get hold of some of the rescue services.”

Also trapped by the waves, Mahomed Shahzada from Durban called the National Sea Rescue Institute, who alerted the Specialised Rescue Unit.

“Three of the girls who were with us were hit by a wave and slipped on the rocks, but luckily we managed to grab hold of them and I called for help,” he said.

Shahzada said they waited on the rocks until the SRU members, KwaDukuza lifeguards and Netcare911 arrived.

“It was a very frightening experience. I have not seen big waves like that before. You could not even see the ‘Hole in the Wall’ because of all the water,” he said.

Netcare911 paramedic Goolam Mohamed said fortunately no one was seriously injured more than a few cuts and bruises from the rocks.

Shahzada suggested that people who want to go to that stretch of beach should be warned beforehand if high tides are expected.

“It could have been much worse, but the rescue services and the lifeguards were really amazing with helping us,” he said.

Van Katwijk said it was a scary but exhilarating experience.

“It was hectic. My brother and I were the last ones to cross over and by then the rain had started to pour and it was really cold. The lifeguards helped so much and the other rescue guys were amazing. We are really grateful for their help,” he said.