Khayelitsha man rescued from rip currents at Monwabisi Beach
· The South African
A 23-year-old man from Khayelitsha was rescued from a suspected drowning at Monwabisi Beach on Tuesday afternoon thanks to the rapid response of emergency services.
According to the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), the incident occurred at approximately 14:36, when NSRI Strandfontein duty crew were alerted to reports of a possible drowning in progress.
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Emergency teams mobilised
NSRI Strandfontein station commander Nicky Whitehead said a local lifeguard contacted an NSRI duty controller to raise the alarm, prompting the activation of the NSRI Strandfontein duty crew and the City of Cape Town water rescue network as a precaution.
Responding teams included an NSRI rescue swimmer, the City of Cape Town Law Enforcement Marine Unit, local shark spotters, Western Cape Government Health EMS, and Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services.
Shark spotters at the scene confirmed that a swimmer was indeed in distress in the surf zone.
Dramatic rescue in the surf
On arrival, a Law Enforcement Marine Unit officer entered the water and managed to reach the man struggling in the surf.
The officer successfully brought the swimmer back to shore, where a shark spotter assisted in helping the man safely out of the water.
An NSRI crew member soon arrived on the scene, and together they began administering medical treatment to the man, who was showing symptoms of non-fatal drowning.
Paramedics from Metro EMS and Fire and Rescue Services joined the rescue teams and continued treating the patient at the scene.
Swimmer stabilised and transported to hospital
The man was stabilised on the beach before being transported to hospital by EMS ambulance in a stable condition.
Initial reports suggest the swimmer may have been caught in rip currents while swimming.
Rescue teams praised
The NSRI commended the swift and coordinated response of all emergency services involved in the rescue.
Special praise was given to the Law Enforcement Marine Unit officer, whose quick actions were credited with saving the swimmer’s life, as well as to the shark spotters who assisted during the rescue.
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