Learner transported to hospital following non-fatal drowning

File imageJohn Nicholas, NSRI Port Edward station commander, said:At 14h20, Friday, 30th October, NSRI Port Edward duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at East Beach, Port Edward.We dispatched our sea rescue vehicle and our Discovery Rescue Quad Bike carrying rescue swimmers and Netcare 911 ambulance services and the Hibiscus Protection Services responded.On arrival on the scene we found a 16 year old school learner, on a day outing with a Matatiele, Eastern Cape, school, already out of the water and on the beach after reportedly being assisted out of the water. It was not determined who had assisted the teenager from the water but it is believed to have been a bystander.It is suspected that the teenager may have been caught in rip-currents before getting into difficulty in the water.The teenager was found to be unconscious suffering symptoms of a non-fatal drowning and NSRI medics initiated emergency medical treatment and the patient regained consciousness.The patient was transported to hospital by Netcare ambulance in a serious but stable condition.TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONESMS 32287 (R1/SMS) with your name and a message of support for our Sea Rescue crew