Swimmers drown despite rescue efforts
Unfortunately the sea was so rough and by the time help arrived the men had drowned.
Praise has been heaped on the brave heroes who jumped into rough seas to rescue holidaymakers, Johann Griessel (56) and Colin Grant Schreuder (34) from Sasolburg.
The visitors were swimming near the mouth of the Umzumbe River when tragedy struck last Tuesday afternoon.
The Vaalweekblad reported that Griessel and his daughter Jenney (26) were swimming in the sea when she was swept away by a current. She called out to her father, but he too was pulled deeper by the current. Schreuder, her fiancé tried to help them. While Jenney was able to get out, the two men were pulled in further and drowned.
When calls for help rang out, Karel Beetge and his son, Dewald from Gladiator Security and Umzumbe lifeguards, Mhlengi Mbutho, Founder Mbongo, Bright Mtuli and Ronald Mzobe leapt into action to assist the bathers in trouble.
“We first managed to get Griessel (who was still breathing) out of the water and Mbongo performed extensive CPR on him but it was sadly too late. We then went back and found Schreuder and brought him ashore. However, it was too late to save him too,” said Beetge.
The lifeguards sprinted more than 1.5km from their base at Umzumbe main beach to the river mouth.
Mbutho explained that one’s adrenaline automatically kicks in when one knows people are in serious trouble and are at risk of drowning.
Head lifeguard Dumisane Radebe couldn’t stress enough the importance of locals and visitors swimming at beaches manned by lifeguards.
Dewald, aged 19, and his father didn’t think twice about swimming out in their clothes to try to rescue the two men.
Over the years, Beetge has been involved in many operations and currently does a brilliant job overseeing security in Umzumbe.
The Vaalweekblad said Griessel was a founding member and chairman of Sasolburg’s Community Policing Forum. A spokesperson for CPF Sasolburg said he led a team of patrollers for more than 12 years and played a major role in helping to combat crime in the town.
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