Local lifeguards share festive season rescue stories

Six local lifeguards shared some details about their rescues during last year’s festive season. This is what they had to say:

Nkosikhona Vesi

A father and his son who is an adult were sucked in with a rip current and were very far out. I swam out and managed to bring them in safely. The family couldn’t believe that someone my size was able to rescue both men. On another day, I swam out to test the currents. The public thought I had been sucked in and asked the lifeguards to rescue me. The lifeguards recognised me and let me continue my swim. By the time I came back to the beach, the public thought I was a hero for swimming so far out without any assistance.

Ayanda Butelezi

I was stationed at Isipingo Beach and never in my life have I eaten so much biryani. When the time came for me to go out on the boat, I was seasick. It was a fun season. We kept in mind that ‘prevention is better than cure’, this season, taking extra safety precautions. Prevention was definitely the name of the game.

Slater Rudling

“While stationed at the Subway Beach stretch, a jetski lost its power past the shark nets. The man set off flares to call for help. I used a knee board and paddled out to where the driver was. I then called for assistance from Warnadoone and in no time a boat was there to get the man and his vehicle to safety. When at Winkle Beach, a toddler was left unattended and was floating face down in the river. When I reached her she was foaming out the ears, nose and mouth, but was still conscious.”

Read about it: Another toddler narrowly averted at Amanzimtoti

Ivan Smith

“A bag was snatched on Warner Beach. I chased the man down the sand road heading towards the tennis courts. He stopped and pulled a knife out.  I then stopped and called the cops. In no time, they arrived with dogs, caught the thief and returned the bag.”

Buyani Mkhize

I was stationed at Warner Beach. A boat was washed onto the Baggies Beach rocks. We went out to assist by getting all the passengers off the boat and back to safety on the shore.

Sikhuabuzo Zama

When I was stationed at Warner Beach, we attempted to revive a diver who lost consciousness. We performed CPR on him for nearly 50 minutes. However, it was too late and he was unable to be resuscitated.

Read about it here: Warner Beach diver dies 

Read more about the past festive season here: Seasonal lifesavers lauded

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