FUN at the beach almost led to tragedy for a young boy who found himself sucked into ‘quicksand’ at Naval Island on Sunday.
Firmly trapped as the incoming tide reached his shoulders, only the frantic efforts of passers-by saved him from drowning.
The drama began around noon when Tiaan Coertse, his brother Etienne and friend Codi Chisolm were enjoying a beach outing with their great aunt Loraine Jonnes.
While Loraine kept an eye on them from her car parked close by, Riaan asked the other boys to bury him waist-deep in sand near the water’s edge.
‘After quite a while Codi ran up to tell me that Tiaan was crying,’ said Loraine.
‘I thought this was a typical spat and when I got to Tiaan he said he wanted to get out of the hole they had buried him in.
‘I was not too worried and put my arms under his shoulders to lift him out – but I could not.
‘I told the other boys to dig away the sand around Tiaan, but the more they dug, the deeper he sank.’
Losing battle
By this time Loraine, who was standing fully clothed in the water, was frantic.
‘I could not leave him to run for help as the water was now up his chest.
‘Luckily an Indian gentleman came to assist.’
That man, Vinesh Maharaj, was to prove a literal life saver.
‘I had no reason to be there. God sent me,’ said Vanesh.
‘We had been at the shop and on the spur of the moment I decided to drive to Naval Island, where I saw what was happening and ran to help.
‘I held on to the boy with one hand and dug with the other but it was a losing battle.
‘The water was up to his shoulders and I knew if I let him go it would be the end.’
Two more adult passers-by joined the attempt but amid tears, fears and screams still they were still unable to lift Tiaan from the hole as the downward pressure kept its grip.
The arrival of a ‘big man’ in the form of John Bruce gained the victory over the tug-o’-war with the tide, and finally ‘with a sound like a giant suction cup’, Tiaan was pulled free, feet first.
He had been hyper-ventilating and was cold and in shock but soon recovered amid a lot of hugs and high fives.
His mother, Tracey can’t say enough about the part played by those who saved Tiaan’s life.
‘The Lord had his angels watching over my child, and they came on the form of three gentlemen.’
Warning to parents
Alkantstrand Beach Manager, Shakes Hiraman said this was not an isolated incident.
‘There have been many deaths and serious injuries caused by similar situations, especially where holes have been dug and the sand collapses.
‘For this reason, we have for some time banned bathers from covering each other with sand, especially near the water’s edge.
‘We would prefer children to build sand castles rather than dig holes.’
