WHEN mother Andile Sibiya signed her daughter, Londeka up for Nippers Pirates Lifesaving Club at Durban’s Battery Beach, she did not expect to see Londeka saving a drowning victim at a tidal pool in eMdloti on the north coast.
Andile said she signed her children up for Nippers for their own safety.
“We signed both our children up for Nippers, because we live near the beach and we have this wonderful ocean to enjoy. You want your children to be able to enjoy the beach safely.
“Within weeks of starting at Nippers, we went on holiday and the children were able to identify a rip current. They were more conscious in the water, which was wonderful. We were seeing the benefits of the training, but we really didn’t expect that it would be a benefit to others so early on,” she said.
Londeka Sibiya (13), who is a Maris Stella learner, snapped into action, putting her Nippers training to use without a second thought. Proud mother, Andile recalled the day at Umdloti tidal pool.
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“We were sitting on the beach when we heard the commotion and saw the young girl drowning. Then we saw someone powering over to her and realised it was Londeka. It happened in seconds, Londeka reacted before we even had a chance to stand up,” said Andile.
“I was swimming with my cousins when I heard screaming and shouting. As I turned around, I saw a teenage girl going under the water and I knew she wasn’t ok. I swam over to her and put her on her back and brought her back to shore,” added Londeka.
“At Nippers, we learn how to put someone in the right position if they are drowning and how to get out into the water quickly enough to save a person before it’s too late,” she added.
“I was excited and surprised that I managed to do it,” she said.
Training
Londeka started swimming at just three years old.
“I love being in the water,” she said.
“I swim in the morning with my mom at Kings Park Pool three times a week and I run twice a week. Running develops different muscle strength in my legs which helps me in the pool” she said.
Londeka took part in the aQuellé Midmar Mile on Saturday, February 12.
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“It was challenging to swim in the open water as the current was strong, but I got through it,” she said.
Nippers
Nippers Officer at Pirates Lifesaving Club, Howard Bebington, has coached Londeka.
“Londeka has always been a keen nipper,” he said.
“Nippers start at the U 10 age group and go up to U14. We haver a Niplet group for children under eight years old. I always say, if children enjoyed the season and gain an appreciation for the ocean, then our job is done. It’s a very competitive sport, but a lot of people just want their children to have an appreciation for the sea. Often children who have been through Nippers training save lives passively, because they know about ocean conditions and when it’s not a good idea to go into the sea,” said Bebington.
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