Fisherman’s brave attempt to save a life
The woman appeared to have gone for a lunch-time swim with colleagues when she was swept out to sea by strong rip currents.
DESPITE a Port Edward resident’s valiant effort to save the life of a woman (35) who was swept out to sea at Port Edward beach on Monday this week, she was declared dead by paramedics.
The woman, reportedly employed by the local municipality’s beach cleaning and maintenance department, appeared to have gone for a lunch-time swim with colleagues when she was swept out to sea by strong rip currents.
At the same time, Peter Brereton, (57) and his wife, Theresa (59), were on the beach.
Mr Brereton had just returned from fishing on his jet ski when he noticed a commotion on the beach with people screaming and pointing out to sea.
Although, Mr Brereton couldn’t see anyone in the surf-line he assumed someone must be in difficulty and immediately alerted the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI).
He then launched his jet ski and went over to the rocks where the majority of the people were shouting.
Mr Brereton realised that someone had been swept out to sea and he shouted to a bystander, Simthembile Bitsha (25), to climb onto his jet ski so he could direct him to the person in trouble.
Craig Lambinon, NSRI’s media spokesman, said with Mr Bitsha’s assistance, they came across a woman in dire difficulty in the water.
Mr Brereton quickly showed Mr Bitsha how to drive the jet ski and leapt into the water.
“The woman was in a panicked state and Peter was able to rescue-swim her towards the shore with the aid of the incoming waves,” said Mr Lambinon.
By that stage the jet ski had capsized and Mr Brereton shouted to Mr Bitsha to stay with the jet ski and just hold on.
Mr Bitsha was able to climb onto the capsized jet ski and ride waves to shore.
Once on the beach, Mr and Mrs Brereton initiated CPR before being joined by paramedics from NSRI Port Edward and KwaZulu-Natal Private Ambulance Service.
Mr Brereton was treated for exhaustion and was left very traumatised by the incident.
“I would like something good to come out of this and for this not to happen again. Something needs to be done to make bathers more aware of the currents” – Peter Brereton
Mr Brereton suggested that the beach cleaners possibly be trained to advise people where not to swim during the week when the lifeguards were not on duty.
He added that a simple – Sir or Ma’am, don’t swim here, swim over there’ could save a life.
In his younger days Mr Brereton did a 15-year stint rescuing people in Port Edward using a rigid inflatable rubber duck, before the NSRI opened a station there.
He once conducted a rescue operation 25 nautical miles out to sea and he was a member of NSRI Port Edward for a short.
