A visit to the beach turned into a harrowing ordeal and rescue for five holiday makers last night when they were trapped by rising tides near the famous Hole in the Wall at Thompson’s Bay at Ballito.

Tanya Lotter (Richards Bay), Jeannine Botha (Clanwilliam, Western Cape), Johan Pyper (Potchefstroom), Talitha van Wyk (Pretoria) and Zander Botha (Potchefstroom) told The Courier that they arrived in Ballito yesterday and decided to visit Thompson’s Bay shortly after 1pm – unaware that later that day members of Specialised Rescue Unit (SRU) would be braving both the darkness and massive seven meter waves to save their lives.

“The waves were quite big – but we didn’t think we had anything to worry about at the time,” said Pyper.

As the afternoon progressed though, it became clear to the five that they were trapped by the rising tide.

Zander said as the light was fading he saw a women signalling them with a cellphone from a balcony at Santorini and – using his lighter – signaled her back, hoping that someone would be able to help them escape the rapidly deteriorating situation.

Quentin Power from SRU reports that they received a call around 7pm from a women who said she could see a small light waving on the rocks.

SRU immediately dispatched a team to investigate and en route got confirmation that several people were indeed trapped and in need of rescue.

“We placed an ambulance on standby while our rescue swimmers made their way to the trapped people.

“At this stage the waves were washing over the whole Thompson’s Bay pool – over the concrete and into the ablutions.”

Neither the falling darkness nor the huge swells deterred SRU rescue swimmers Kyle Meyer, Quentin Power, Brendon Power, Murray Rait and Brett Moran, who entered the water and made their way towards the terrified holiday makers.

“As our first two rescue swimmers got closer they radioed that there were five people trapped,” said Quentin.

“They fitted life jackets on all the people and briefed them on the action plan.”

While they were doing this a freak wave crashed over them and washed Jeannine over the rock ledge and into a raging sea with waves between 5 and 7 meters.

Brendon Power and Brett Moran immediately dived into the turbulent surf after her.

“They deployed an emergency throw line which I grabbed, and this was used to bring them back to the shore in the unmanageable backwash.”

According to Jeannine the waves were so intense that they ripped the life jacket right off her body.

“I was in so much shock that one of the rescue swimmers, Kyle Meyer, picked me up and carried me all the way to the ambulance.

“These men were amazing – they put my life above their own.”

In the meantime the rest of the rescue crew coordinated a backup plan and – carefully timing the waves – safely brought the remaining four across.

In a video interview Jeannine’s boyfriend Johan told The Courier, “For a second there I thought I’d lost her.”

Lotter and van Wyk said their rescuers kept them all calm, gave them step by step instructions and made them feel that they would all get home safely.

Jeannine suffered several cuts and bruises from being washed over the rocks and was treated by Netcare 911 paramedics while the SRU team was rescuing her friends.

The rescue mission lasted about three hours and aside from the cold and Jeannine’s scrapes there were no further injuries.

The five expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the SRU rescue swimmers, saying that they were nothing less than heroes.

Tune in to The North Coast Courier’s Facebook page at 10am tomorrow morning for a live video interview with the two hero rescue swimmers.

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