#Letter: Gratitude for lifesavers’ quick intervention

Stefan Stoltz of the Limpopo province writes:

My family visited the North Coast over the past week as we enjoy the hospitality of the region.

Growing up in KZN (Durban, Bluff) and further up north (Mtubathuba/St Lucia), I am no stranger to the ocean and the potential perils of currents.

Being a strong swimmer, I frequently volunteered my time assisting the “real lifesavers” from the age of about 15 (even it was only carrying their equipment, training with them and keeping an eye on the juniors).

Fast-forward to 2022 and our visit to the North Coast.

We enjoyed many refreshing swims at various beaches, and what should have been an uneventful swim near Salt Rock today (February 18), almost ended in tragedy.

At a mere 30-50m in, my son-in-law was caught in a rip current.

He tried to get out by swimming sideways, but eventually his energy was drained and as panic set in, shallow breathing followed shortly after he was repeatedly hammered by the waves which were hitting him in short tandem.

I swam out to assist him, but as so frequently happens he began pulling me down and it wasn’t long before I too was gasping for air.

Yip, the last 30 years of desk-bound work life had caught up with me, and here I was confronted with a situation I had helped others get out of.

After signaling for assistance, it took a few minutes for the local lifeguards to reach us and assist us back to the safety of the shore.

Had we endured a few more minutes without assistance, we certainly would have been in grave danger.

My sincere gratitude to the lifesavers out there.

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