Tourists save drowning girl’s life
She is in a serious, but stable, condition in hospital.
A COUPLE from Vereeniging came to the rescue of 13 year-old girl who got into trouble while swimming at Port Edward beach last Friday.
The girl had been swept out by rip currents, which were very strong last weekend.
Leandra Janse van Rensburg and Dirk de Bruin (her boyfriend) noticed a man in the water frantically indicating that the girl was in trouble.
Mr de Bruin swam out about 20 metres and brought the girl back to the beach, where Ms Janse van Rensburg, a radiographer with first aid training, administered CPR.
This worked, and the girl was soon coughing up water.
NSRI medics took over the CPR efforts upon their arrival and were soon joined by the Netcare 911 paramedics.
“Leandra Janse van Rensburg and Dirk de Bruin, of Vereeniging, are commended for their quick actions which have no doubt saved the teenagers life,” said John Nicholas, NSRI Port Edward station commander.
He said the girl was placed on a ventilator and, after a few minutes, paramedics managed to get her heart beating again.
The girl was from Sea View in the Transkei and was one of about 100 pupils on the beach that day.
She was taken to hospital where she is being observed for secondary drowning symptoms.
