Patient transported to hospital

Deon Truter, NSRI Plettenberg Bay station commander, said: 'At17h15, Wednesday, 06th March, NSRI Plettenberg Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew, while conducting routine exercises in the surf at Plettenberg Bay, were activated following reports of a man found motionless in the water at Robberg 5 Beach, Plettenberg Bay.'Our NSRI Plettenberg bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew, at sea at the time conducting routine exercises nearby, dispatched three of our sea rescue craft, SALLY JOAN, AIRLINK RESCUER and our DISCOVERY RESCUE RUNNER, and Medlife ambulance services responded.'On arrival on-scene we found the on-duty lifeguards had successfully rescued a 49 year old male from the water and the man was secured and immobilized onto a spinal trauma board.'He has been transported to hospital by Medlife ambulance in a stable condition suffering a suspected spinal injury.'It appears that the man, from Germany, and staying with his brother who lives in Plettenberg Bay, may have been 'dumped' by a wave while swimming and may have hurt his spine during the incident. Lifeguards had reportedly found the man lying face down in the water in the surf line before rescuing him.'