PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Two incidents in the past week in which community members helped save the lives of two people, have illustrated that heroes come in all shapes and forms.
On 23 September an eight-year-old girl was swept out to sea in a rip current on Robberg Beach.
National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesman Craig Lambinon said their Plettenberg Bay volunteers responded to reports of a drowning in progress near the Beacon Island Hotel at about 14:40.
"NSRI Plettenberg Bay rescue swimmer Deon Victor was nearby at the time and he responded while the remaining NSRI duty crew were activated," Lambinon said.
When Victor arrived, he found at least seven people in the water. "Three men appeared to be trying to get back to shore, two men were entering the water and there was a 17-year-old male assisting an 8-year-old girl at the backline breakers and he was keeping her head above water," said Lambinon. The mother of the young girl was out of the water after attempting to help her daughter.
"Victor entered the surf and he swam out to assist and on reaching the teenager and the casualty, Victor was able to swim the casualty to shore. The teenager also got out of the water safely."
By the time everyone was out of the water, additional NSRI crew and Med-Life personnel had arrived on the scene. The girl was treated for non-fatal drowning symptoms and transported to hospital by ambulance in a stable condition.
"Following observation and treatment in hospital she has recovered. It appears that the child had been swept out to sea in a rip current and her mom and the bystanders leapt into the water to help." Lambinon commend the teenager and everyone who assisted on the scene.
Hiker
At about 10:20 on 24 September, local NSRI volunteers responded to another emergency, this time after a 52-year-old hiker collapsed on the Robberg Nature Reserve hiking trail.
NSRI Plettenberg Bay station commander Jaco Kruger said not only did NSRI volunteers respond, but so did Med-Life paramedics and nature conservation officers.
"A doctor, who happened to be there at the time, was assisting. NSRI, Med-Life paramedics and nature conservation officers arrived on the scene where the patient was treated for a medical condition and he was secured into a Stokes basket stretcher," said Kruger.
An EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter was activated and the patient was airlifted to the car park and then transferred into a Med-Life ambulance and transported to hospital in a serious but stable condition. "NSRI commends the multiple resources' cooperation on this operation."
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