A swim to mark his milestone birthday turned into a rescue mission for a Ballito resident who rescued a struggling swimmer off Tiffany’s beach in Salt Rock this morning.

Luke Jordan, who turned 21 today, was out body surfing at Four Poles (100m from Tiffany’s) when he heard a group of onlookers calling him from the beach.

“At first I thought they were trying to get my attention because they had spotted a shark and I swam back in.

“When I reached the beach I was told that a holidaymaker had gotten into trouble and had been swept out to the back line.

“I plotted the best way to reach him and went back into the sea,” said Jordan.

Fighting a strong rip and solid wave conditions, Jordan managed to reach the distressed man who was disappearing and reappearing under the water.

“When I swam up to him he was weak, with no energy left in him at all and not responsive.

“I managed to grab him under the arms and turn him on his back and with waves slamming into him I made our way back to the beach, ” said Jordan.

Birthday boy Luke Jordan after the rescue.

Onlookers called the paramedics who where able to administer first-aid to the man and take him to hospital.

Jordan, who is comfortable in the ocean, having grown up on the North Coast surfing and being a nipper said it was a matter of being in the right place at the right time.

Currently studying a Commerce degree at Stellenbosch University Jordan was home to celebrate his 21st birthday with his family.

“Had it not been for my 21st birthday I would not have been out there,” he said. “I just tried to keep cool and was happy I was able to be there to help.”