KNYSNA NEWS - A 48-year-old Belgian tourist is recovering in hospital after a suspected rip current incident at a remote beach between Brenton-on-Sea and Buffalo Bay yesterday, Monday 19 October.

According to Jerome Simonis, station commander of the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Knysna, the duty crew was activated at 16:28 following reports from the Knysna Fire and Rescue Service’s control of a drowning in progress.

The NSRI launched its rescue craft, the Katharine and JayTee IV, and rescue swimmers were deployed into the surf zone. They swam ashore and found the man on the beach, and medical treatment was started for symptoms of non-fatal drowning.

The rescue operation involved the NSRI Knysna, the police’s water policing and diving service, the Western Cape Government’s Health EMS, the Knysna Fire and Rescue Service, ER24 and a local medic of the Brenton-on-Sea Ratepayers Association.

With the sea conditions being unfavourable for transferring the man to the rescue craft waiting offshore beyond the breakers, the rescuers and paramedics reached the barely accessible beach by road from Buffalo Bay. 

An NSRI crew member transported additional personnel for about 5km in a private vehicle.

The man was medically stabilised before being transported to the Buffalo Bay parking area, where an ER24 ambulance was waiting. He was then taken to hospital in a stable condition.

Simonis said the man was recovering under medical care and was expected to make a full recovery. He was expected to be discharged from hospital today, Tuesday 20 October.

According to Simonis, the man had been cycling with his wife and two sons when the family stopped for a swim. 

He is suspected to have been caught in the rip currents, and his wife raised the alarm. The man managed to get himself back to the beach, where the rescue crews found him.

The family were expected to continue their holiday following the positive news of his recovery.

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