WARNADOONE Surf Lifesaving Club trained nippers Luke Veldtman and Kai Coetzee assisted a struggling adult bather back to the safety of the shore during the October school holidays.
The 14-year-olds’ ocean knowledge and ability to react quickly saw a happy ending to what could’ve been a more tragic turn of events.
Read also: Warnadoone Surf Lifesaving Club celebrates nine decades of service
While enjoying their school holidays at Baggies Beach, friends Luke and Kai noticed an adult bather out beyond the sand bank who was flapping his arms in distress. The teens had just completed years of nipper training at the local lifesaving club last year, comfortable in their knowledge about the ocean.
When the teens realised the man could be battling to stay afloat, Luke, armed with flippers, swam over the bank to the man and asked if he needed help.
“When the man said he did, Luke helped tow him in, much like a rescue swimmer would by using his flippers. He pulled him back onto the sandbank where Kai grabbed Luke and helped pull them the last few metres onto the sand bank. The teens helped walk the man back to shore,” explained Luke’s father and Warnadoone nipper officer, Llewellyn Veldtman.
Thinking nothing much of what they had done, they laughed it off and went for a body surf. The man then went up to Baggies grass area and later on returned to thank Luke for his help.
“Later that evening Luke quite non-nonchalantly told us bits and pieces of the story. We also asked Kai about the rescue the next day, again extracting information out of them and helping them realise they had actually executed a real rescue. They both didn’t see this as a rescue initially, joking that Luke looked the part but Kai did the hard part of pulling his arm. Both boys are amazingly humble,” said Llewellyn.
As a father and the club’s current nipper officer, Llewellyn said he couldn’t be prouder of knowing they put into action what they had been taught, and seeing them step up when needed.
“I have seen the club triple in size in recent years. My son joined Warnadoone at the age 11 and Kai joined at eight-years-old, they both hold numerous medals at SA champs,” he said. The nipper officer said the youngsters love any water sport and have formed an inseparable bond.
This could come as a result of their time spent training in and learning about the ocean. Their favourite event at nipper events is knee boarding. Luke, a grade 7 Warner Beach Prep pupil, was the club’s nipper captain last year and has also taken up bodyboarding on the side. Kai is in grade 8 at Durban Boys High on an aquatics bursary. He has taken up waterpolo and showing his form, won player of the year in his age group.
“We at Warnadoone are extremely proud of Luke and Kai, and as Luke’s father, I am exceptionally proud of him,” said Llewellyn.
Lifesaving saves lives
“Nippers, which introduces children to lifesaving, is probably one of the best sports a parent can get their child involved in,” said Llewellyn.
“It’s the only sport that’s educationally-based. It was started in SA at Warnadoone Lifesaving Club. All nippers do a competency test along with passing level test 1, 2, 3, which involves basic first aid, beach and river safety, swimming fitness and signals.”
Nippers has also been introduced into the local primary schools.
“Warner Beach Prep was the first school in KZN to take it on in the curriculum and we have evolved to having an annual inter-schools competition,” he added.
“Durban schools are now coming on board. The more we get this sport into the schools, the more lives will be saved. Accidents and drownings happen so quickly, even if an adult is around. It’s not always adults who save children, as was this case where the roles were reversed and a young boy correctly taught helped save a grown man.”
To find out more about getting involved in nippers, call Llewellyn on 082-572-7910.
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