PLETT: Man rescued by bystanders:

On Wednesday 27th February at 13h24, NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew were called out following reports of a man in difficulty in the surf at The Waves, at Keeroms River Beach, Plettenberg Bay.Deon Truter, NSRI Plettenberg Bay station commander, said that our Plettenberg Bay volunteers launched AIRLINK RESCUER and SALLY JOAN and responded. Medlife ambulance services also responded.On arrival on-scene we found a Dr. Horst Molitor, 70, from Oudtshoorn, already on the beach after being rescued by bystanders.Four bystanders, an unidentified man, and the Jacobs family, Gerard Jacobs, 55, his wife, Olive, 56, and their son, Gerard Junior, 26, after noticing Dr. Molitor in difficulty in the surf, had all swum out to try to help.'It appears that they then all got into some difficulty in the surf, in strong rip-currents, but managed to help each other and all reached the beach with Dr. Molitor in tow prior to NSRI arriving on-scene.Dr. Molitor was treated on scene for near drowning symptoms by our NSRI medics and handed into the care of Medlife paramedics. He has been transported to hospital for further treatment and observation by ambulance in a stable condition.The Jacobs family also received treatment for near drowning symptoms and Medlife ambulance services also transported them to hospital for observation for secondary drowning.The unidentified man who helped in the rescue left the scene before we could get his details.The Jacobs family, from Potgietersrus, Limpopo Province, and the unidentified man are commended for their gallant efforts, putting themselves at risk, to go to the rescue of Dr. Molitor. Airlink Rescuer.