KNYSNA NEWS - After he acted swiftly to help save a SANParks dinghy as reported two weeks ago, young Benito Titus was last week rewarded with a special trip on the lagoon with SANParks rangers.
Eleven-year-old Benito hails from Hornlee, and one weekend last month he spotted a SANParks dinghy drifting in the lagoon and called on the crew of Knysna Charters to rescue the boat.
Benito was out fishing with his family at the jetty opposite the SANParks offices on Thesen Islands on 16 January when he spotted the boat drifting in the lagoon around midday.
He called for the help of Hans Viljoen and the crew at Knysna Charters, a private boat charter company on the island, to lend a hand and rescue the boat.
Benito met the SANParks marine team last Wednesday, 3 February, as well as park manager of the Knysna Section of the Garden Route National Park (GRNP) Megan Taplin; general manager of the GRNP Vuyiswa Thabethe and the rest of the rangers.
Following his introduction and tour, he was taken out on the lagoon, and in not just any dinghy, but the actual dinghy he saved.
According to GRNP spokesperson Nandi Mgwadlamba, the purpose of the trip was to orientate him on the work of marine rangers, seeing as Benito aspires to become a SANParks ranger.
"We are very proud of Benito, and often see him fishing with his grandmother," said Taplin.
Related article: 11-year-old saves renegade boat
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