Jogger rescues swimmers at Boulders Beach, Ballito

A beautiful day on the beach turned into a nightmare for two families on Sunday when a strong current caught the swimmers by surprise, pulling them further and further out into the ocean.

Fortunately Ballito resident Garry Barford, who was jogging on the promenade, saw the distressed people and quickly sprung into action.

Five people, including a child, were in trouble near Granny’s Pool at Ballito’s Boulders Beach.

“I just heard people screaming and waving their hands in the ocean.

“I didn’t really stop to think but I knew that I had to help.”

Members of the Specialised Rescue Unit (SRU), who arrived shortly afterwards, joined Barford in the rescue effort and they managed to get all five people safely back to the beach.

“My fiancee is an intern doctor at a local hospital and I called her to help with some of the injuries once we got out of the sea,” said Barford.

SRU’s Quentin Power said the group’s wounds were cleaned and dressed while they waited for ambulance services to arrive.

“IPSS Medical Rescue and Netcare 911 transported three people to hospital for further treatment,” said Power.

IPSS Medical Rescue’s Paul Herbst said the victims were in a stable condition but that they would be kept overnight for observation.

“Three victims showed signs of near-drowning,” reported Herbst.

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