At 17h48 on Sunday 1 April, NSRI Port Alfred volunteer sea rescue duty crew responded to East Beach, Port Alfred, following reports of a drowning in progress.
3 swimmers, a 17 year old female, cousin to two brothers, both 18 years old, all reportedly got into difficulty in the surf and were swept out to sea in a rip current.
The father of the two males, (who is also the uncle of the female), a man aged in his 40’s, went into the surf to try to save them.
The 3 males are all on holiday from Centurion. The female is from Jeffreys Bay.
Local surfers, Daniel Patterson, Ryan Nel and Kelvin Browning, aged in their early 20’s, all from the local air school, rescued the 3 youngsters after noticing that they were in difficulty in the surf and they brought them safely ashore.
On its arrival on-scene the NSRI sea rescue craft rescued the father from the surf and brought him safely to shore.
The 17 year old female was treated on-scene by NSRI medics and NSRI have transported her to hospital, suffering near drowning symptoms, in a stable but serious condition.
“At 19h00 the hospital staff reported that the 17 year old female is recovering well but will be kept overnight in hospital for observation for secondary drowning” said Juan Pretorius, NSRI Port Alfred station commander.
