Sodwana diver rescued
Calvin Grung was spearfishing with two friends off the boat 'Maginity' at Nine Mile Reef, north of Sodwana Bay.
A SPEAR fisherman had to be rescued and resuscitated at Sodwana Bay on Saturday morning after getting into difficulty.
According to iSimangaliso Wetland Park Media Officer, Siyabonga Mhlongo, Calvin Grung (39) was spearfishing with two friends, Riaan Harding and his brother Andrew, off the boat Maginity at Nine Mile Reef, north of Sodwana Bay.
Surf conditions were slightly choppy, with little underwater surge and visibility not at its best. While diving at about 20m, Harding realised Grung was missing. He surfaced and asked the boat skipper to start a surface search before descending to search underwater. After locating Grung, the brothers and skipper brought him ashore where they administered first aid treatment and resuscitation measures, which revived Grung. They then called for emergency assistance.
Mercy Wing 4, the KwaZulu-Natal Emergency Medical Services (EMS) aeromedical helicopter, responded to the scene.
While the helicopter was en route, the flight coordinator was liaising with rescuers on the beach at Sodwana Bay and an emergency landing zone was prepared.
On landing, the two paramedics assessed the patient, whose condition seemed to have improved after the initial resuscitation procedures.
Grung was airlifted to Ngwelezana Hospital for further medical care.
