Brave teen lifeguard saves young girl from drowning – Salt Rock
Ballito’s Matthew Opperman plunged into the ocean near Granny’s Pool, to rescue a 10-year-old child.
Years of training at the Umhlanga Rocks Lifesaving Club paid off for 16-year-old Ballito resident Matthew Opperman, who last weekend had to put his lifesaving skills to the test.
After a special day celebrating a family wedding at Canelands Beach Club on Sunday, 11 November, a few guests made their way down to the beach for a view of the ocean before heading back home to Johannesburg.
In the blink of an eye, a 10-year-old girl who was frolicking in the waves was washed away almost instantly by the strong rip current.
Her elderly uncle ran in to save her, but was unable to get either himself or the girl back to shore, slowly being pulled further out to sea.
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Jackie Freer, who was celebrating her sister’s wedding day, was in the hotel when the horrifying ordeal occurred.
“I ran into the restaurant shouting for the hotel staff to get help, screaming ‘please can someone help, a child is drowning!’,” said Jackie.
In this moment, Matthew, who was enjoying lunch with his family after four hours of intense cycling training, immediately jumped up and ran straight down to the beach, with his dad following close behind him.
His mom, Lisa, stayed with the bridal party, assuring them that Matthew was a lifeguard and that he would help them.
“It was scary as a mom watching because you just think to yourself what happens if he drowns, but he just went out there and did his thing,” said Lisa.
“There is no doubt about it that the little girl would have drowned had he not been there.”
Both Matthew and his dad, who had also done lifesaving training many years ago, managed to pull both of them out.
“He was at the right place at the right time, but I think afterwards that hit him hugely.”
Matthew joined as a nipper from a young age and has gone through the ranks, even taking part in the SA champs.
“The nippers club can be very proud of what they instilled in Matthew from when he was so young.
“It is such a good thing for kids to do, because when something like this happens, you can actually save a life,” said Lisa.
Jackie said that Matthew handled the incident well.
“It was not easy bringing them back to shore against the current, but he was able to keep them calm and talk to them and with such strength and determination and knowledge of the ocean and the currents, he managed to get them safely back to shore,” said Jackie.
“The thought of how a beautiful wedding day could have ended, if it wasn’t for him, is too awful to contemplate.”
Matthew’s rescue will be submitted to the Lifesaving South Africa bravery council.
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