A 17-year-old girl is in intensive care in a critical condition at Netcare Alberlito Hospital in Ballito, after she nearly drowned at a Salt Rock beach today.

The Pietermaritzburg girl was rescued by Empangeni resident Tommy van Staden and Tyrone West who were on the beach at the time.

According to Staden, he was at the tidal pool when he heard the girl screaming for help.

“I realised that someone was in trouble and jumped into the water.

“As I got there Tyrone was also in the water.

“He was able to swim faster than me and got to the girl first.

“She was floating face down.

“We were later told that she spent about 15 minutes under the water.

“We managed to pull her up out of the water,” said Staden, speaking from his bed at Alberlito Hospital.

He said he had to be taken in for a checkup.

The other man was badly cut by the mussels on the rocks and was taken to a hospital in Pietermaritzburg, said paramedics.

“It is believed that the girl was swimming at an unprotected area,” said IPSS advanced life support emergency care practitioner Gareth Buckenham, who had taken the teenager to Alberlito.

KwaDukuza lifeguard superintendent Bongani Xulu confirmed that the near drowning took place at the beach in front of the caravan park.

He said the lifeguards arrived after the two heroes and assisted all three back to the beach.

“Due to the rip current, the lifeguards had to swim towards Salt Rock main beach with the girl and the two men in order to get them to safety,” said Xulu.

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