At 13h00 on Saturday 8 October NSRI Wilderness volunteer duty crew were activated following reports of 4 teenagers swept into the Touw River Lagoon and in difficulty, next to our NSRI Wilderness sea rescue base.
As high tide approached the swell and currents heading into the Touw River channel, feeding into the lagoon, were extremely strong, the 4 teenagers, two males and two females, all believed to be aged approximately 16, who we believe were wading in the river, were swept into the lagoon.
Garth Duminy, NSRI Wilderness duty coxswain said that bystanders rescued the two females from the water and the two males managed to get out of the water without assistance.
NSRI Wilderness volunteers who responded to the scene reassured the two females, both suffering from suspected near drowning symptoms, and they were both transported to hospital by ambulance where they were later released.
At approximately 15h00 on Sunday 9 October NSRI Wilderness were activated to Sedgefield Lagoon following reports of a teenager swept into the Lagoon and in difficulties.
At high tide currents in the Sedgefield River channel leading into Sedgefield Lagoon were extremely strong and the teenager, an 18 year old male, was swept up stream and into the lagoon and almost into the middle of the lagoon.
Off-duty junior NSRI trainee crew, 18 year old Warren van Steenderen, was with his dad on the shore at the time and he witnessed the incident and raised the alarm and then he sprang into the lagoon to go to the rescue of the teenager.
Garth Duminy, NSRI Wilderness duty coxswain, said that three NSRI volunteers were knee-boarding on the lagoon at the time, nearby, and they responded to the scene aboard a private boat and on arrival on-scene they confirmed that the teenager had already been rescued by Warren.
The teenager was not injured and he required no further assistance.
