PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - A young resident narrowly escaped drowning on Saturday 12 June when he got caught in a rip current and was swept along the shoreline for about 400 metres.
Plettenberg Bay National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) station commander Ross Badenhorst said the sea rescue crew received reports of a drowning in progress at Lookout Beach just before 13:00 on Saturday 12 June. It was reported that a 19-year-old local was being swept away in strong rip currents.
Their sea rescue craft Rescue Runner and their rescue jet-rib were launched while NSRI rescue swimmers and NSRI medics responded directly to the scene. Medlife Paramedic Services were also activated.
"On arrival at the scene we found a local fisherman and a bystander from Knysna had managed to reach the man and rescue him to shore," Badenhorst said.
The current had dragged the young man along for about 400 metres before he reached a sandbank about 100 meters off-shore.
The man was treated for hypothermia and non-fatal drowning symptoms. He declined to be transported to hospital.
Badenhorst commended the two men who had launched into the surf and managed to rescue the youngster.
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