SEDGEFIELD NEWS - A 12-year-old schoolgirl's life was saved by brave beachgoers and fellow schoolchildren at Swartvlei Beach in Sedgefield yesterday, Thursday 17 March.
The young girl, who was part of a local school group, was swept away by a rip current.
A 12-year-old boy from the same group reacted swiftly and started swimming out to her to assist her.
"A 17-year-old female matric learner, from the same school, swam towards them to assist after a teacher had summoned children to run to fetch the NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy while teachers raised the alarm, alerting NSRI and the emergency services," said Ian Gerber, NSRI Wilderness duty coxswain.
The teenager used Swartvlei's rescue buoy to help keep her and the young girl afloat.
Acting on instructions from a teacher, the 12-year-old boy swam in line with the beach to escape the rip current and make his way back to shore.
While this transpired, a German beachgoer who had recently been paragliding headed to his car to set up his kite-surfing equipment.
"He launched into the water with the kite board under sail and went to the aid of the teenager and young girl," Gerber said.
The German man reached the children and towed them back to the beach using his kite board.
NSRI and other emergency services arrived on the scene when the children and the man were safely back on the beach. Upon assessment, the children were deemed not to need any further medical assistance.
"NSRI commends the German man and the matric teenager for saving the life of the child. The quick reaction and instructions of the teachers are commended," Gerber said.
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