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Festive fun at Winkle sea and sand race

Volunteers at the Winklespruit Surf Lifesaving Club rescued a child that went into respiratory shock after being stung by blue bottles.

WINKLESPRUIT Surf Lifesaving Club is still trying to get back on its feet after being devastated from the years of Covid-19 restrictions, however, the members had a blast during the annual Winkle Toti Winkle Sea and Sand Race midway through December, 2024.

Also read: Beaches close due to contamination

Neville Hazell, chairman of Winklespruit Surf Lifesaving Club, said despite its challenges the festive season was great, and highlighted that the race was well supported and proved to be an exciting day for all those who attended.

Maxine Beukes and Sarah Uppink had a blast at the race.

“After the Covid-19 restrictions, the beach had been closed off in 2022 due to extreme sewage contamination. During that time, we closed our Nipper section down and most active members left for other clubs or sporting codes. With the re-opening of the beach during 2024, we started recruiting a new intake of wannabe lifesavers and currently have around 10 trainees that should get their lifeguard awards early in the new year.

“Our lifeguarding operations and duties during the season were limited to assisting the eThekwini Pro Lifeguards on Sundays and public holidays, and we allowed them to run the show,” said Hazell.

Following New Years Day, Hazell explained that unruly crowds and a lack of Metro Police presence caused havoc and made working the beaches most unpleasant.

He described one of the more noteworthy rescues during the festive period. “Our volunteers mostly operated the motorised rescue and were kept busy when the blue bottles arrived. We even had to perform a casualty evacuation for a patient to Scottburgh Hospital as there were no ambulances available. The little girl was badly stung by blue bottles and went into respiratory shock. Our team applied oxygen and then rushed her off to the hospital.”

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