Edited By Bev Mortimer
A 19-old boy drowned and a 13 year-old is recovering in hospital after both were caught in rip currents at Kabeljous River Mouth at Jeffreys Bay in the Eastern Cape, yesterday, 26 December.
The body of the 19 year-old boy was found in the surf at by NSRI Jeffreys Bay swimmers and the surviving teen was reeled ashore by a hero fisherman who threw a fishing line at the teen. The teenager wrapped the fishing line round his wrist and the fisherman reeled him ashore to safety, from where he was taken to hospital by Relay EMS paramedics .
Kristo Kritzinger, NSRI Jeffreys Bay station commander, said JBay crew were activated by reports of a drowning in progress at the river mouth yesterday at just after 10 am. Eyewitnesses raised the alarm , and reported three ‘teenagers’ were in the shallow surf during an incoming tide when they were caught in rip currents and swept out to sea.
Two NSRI rescue craft, NSRI rescue swimmers, the NSRI rescue vehicle, Relay EMS ambulance services and Kouga Law Enforcement officers responded and were deployed.
The crew found one teenager had managed to rescue himself from the sea and was uninjured. The 13 year-old, local boy, was rescued from the water by the fisherman who had been angling from the shoreline. The boy was taken to hospital suffering from hypothermia and non-fatal drowning symptoms and he is recovering.
It was reported another boy was missing in the surf. During a search, the unresponsive body of the 19 year-old was found in the sea. NSRI rescue swimmers were deployed to free-swim the young man to shore where he was sadly declared dead by paramedics and a doctor.
The SAPS was informed and his body was taken into the care of Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services. An inquest docket has been opened by the SAPS. Condolences were conveyed to the deceased’s family and friends.
The local fisherman who rescued the one teen has been commended for his efforts.
Warning: Visitors and residents to the beaches are advised to only swim at beaches where there are life guards . This past week daily the NSRI has recounted several drowning incidents or incidents where people have gone missing in the surf, up and down South Africa’s Eastern Coast shoreline.
