Hennie Niehaus, NSRI Wilderness station commander, said; “At 17h52 on Tuesday 15 November, the NSRI Wilderness volunteer duty sea rescue crew were activated following reports of two people being swept out to sea at Wilderness (500 meters from the Wilderness sea rescue station 23).
“Our NSRI volunteer duty crew responded to our sea rescue base and launched our sea rescue craft SERENDIPITY and NSRI rescue swimmers responded directly to the beach and George Fire and Rescue Services, Metro EMS, Netcare 911 ambulance service, the SA Police Services and ER-24 ambulance service responded.
“On arrival on-scene it was found that a German couple, Thomas Boettenger, 43, and Christina Koster, 33, both from Cologne, Germany, were swept out to sea in a strong rip current, in 1.5 meter swells and both were swept approximately 200 meters out.
“A local surfer, Vincent Withers, who witnessed the couple being swept out to sea raised the alarm and then launched his surfboard to go after the couple.
“The female managed to get to shore safely and Vincent caught up with Thomas and began assisting to get him ashore when our sea rescue craft arrived on-scene (about 100 meters out to sea) and took both men onto the sea rescue craft and brought them safely ashore.
“The couple were medically assessed by paramedics and found to be not injured and in no need of any medical assistance and both were released requiring no further assistance.
“The couple are on holiday in South Africa.”
