TY FOURIE, a junior lifeguard at Warnadoone Surf Lifesaving Club, recently had his first rescue experience that involved saving a dog from a rip current.
Despite the stress of the situation, the Grade 10 learner from Amanzimtoti High School remained calm and focused on the task at hand.
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“I was standing on the beach when I heard a lifeguard blowing his whistle before seeing two fishermen waving their arms for help. A dog had been pulled into a rip current. With assistance from others, I managed to grab hold of the dog and safely bring it back to shore,” said Ty.
Despite not thinking his first rescue would be that of an animal, he said it felt good to save a life.
His father, Justin Fourie, who is also the deputy chairperson of the club, emphasised the importance of training in preparing for such incidents.
Ty’s journey into lifesaving began when he joined as a nipper at the age of 10, encouraged by a friend. He believes that children are just as capable of learning lifesaving skills and becoming lifeguards as adults are.
“I became a junior lifeguard at the end of 2022 and am now looking forward to becoming a senior this year,” said Ty.
Some of the highlights of his lifesaving activities include swimming, being able to save a life and building friendships through competitions and training sessions.
Justin said, “Having our local beaches closed has been frustrating because we’ve had to keep people out of the ocean, and our nippers and lifeguards cannot train.”
He is now preparing for the upcoming KZN Champs this month and SA Champs at the end of March. Outside of lifeguarding, Ty enjoys playing rugby.
For more information, or to join, contact Justin Fourie on 067 725 0759.
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