Voluntary lifeguards’ bravery rewarded
They rescued two men at Toti main beach in January.
FOUR Amanzimtoti Lifesaving Club voluntary lifeguards were awarded letters of appreciation for an after-hours rescue by Lifesaving South Africa (LSA) at its AGM on Saturday, 25 July.
On Sunday, 26 January at about 6pm, Pierre van Niekerk, Martin Fourie and Wessel Pieterse spotted two men in the sea off Toti main beach between mid-break and backline, who appeared to be in dangerous water.
Pierre grabbed his surfboard and paddled towards the two men. He noticed the one man was more distressed than the other, and placed him on the surfboard. He indicated to the man still battling to keep afloat, to swim towards him, but he was battling because of the strong rip. Pierre tied the leash of the surfboard to his foot and started to swim to the shoreline. He assisted the man on the surfboard to safety and then returned to sea to assist the other swimmer. He noticed that Martin was with the other man and was busy loading him onto his surfboard.
At the same time, Toti club captain, Hannes Smith, who was phoned by a resident staying in the flats next to the lifesaving club, arrived at the beach with his fins. He grabbed three torpedo bouys and rushed into the sea. The third lifeguard, Wessel, was in the water assisting the swimmers, but had no fins.
Hannes reached Martin and took the patient from him and started swimming out with the victim. This took a while as the rip was extremely difficult and the patient did not assist at all, as he was too tired to help himself.
Pierre, who had gone to the clubhouse to fetch a knee board, now returned and assisted Hannes to load the swimmer onto the knee board, and took him to the shoreline, where another lifeguard, JJ Joubert, and the medics took over and stabilised the patient.
The letter of appreciation was awarded to the four lifeguards for their part in assisting with the rescue of the two adult victims from the turbulent sea. LSA acknowledged the good communication between them in successfully bringing both men to shore safely and their quick reaction which led to a successful rescue.
They are congratulated on their brave efforts which are in keeping with the high ideals of rescue and service which Lifesaving South Africa endeavours to promote and practise.
