PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The lives of three boys (aged between 9 and 11) were saved this past weekend at Hobie beach, Plettenberg Bay after a 6-year-old local boy reacted quickly when he saw them possibly drowning in the surf.
According to NSRI Plettenberg Bay station commander Marc Rodgers, their duty crew were activated around midday on Sunday 3 December following reports of a drowning in progress.
Rodgers said that the young Cameron Badenhorst noticed the drowning in progress happening in the surf in front of the lifeguard tower and he ran to the nearby NSRI sea rescue base to alert them.
“We dispatched rescue swimmers to the scene and alerted the lifeguard,” said Rodgers.
When the NSRI arrived, said Rodgers, they found members of the public and a lifeguard helping to get the three boys out of the water.
“They were placed on oxygen and treated for nonfatal drowning symptoms by our medics, and Med-Life ambulance services were activated. The three boys , in stable conditions, were transported to hospital by the ambulance for further treatment and for observation for secondary drowning,” said Rodgers, who added that the boys were expected to fully recover.
The children had been swept out to sea by rip currents they got caught in after incoming waves prevented them from being able to stand in the surf line, Rodgers explained.
“Cameron's quick reaction in alerting us, and the members of the public that assisted, are commended for their actions,” he said.
This was not the only call-out for NSRI Plett during the weekend.
Rodgers said that on Saturday 2 December, at around 18:30, the duty crew launched the sea rescue craft Ray Farnham and Airlink Rescuer to assist a boat that had broken its moorings and was swept out the river mouth.
“At first it was suspected that there were people on the boat but on arrival on the scene we confirmed that there was no one on board and the boat was towed to her mooring and 'remoored' without incident,” he said.
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