Woman assisted from rocks by good Samaritans

Paula Leech, NSRI Table Bay duty controller, said:At 12h28, Sunday, 29th April, NSRI Table Bay duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) following eye-witness reports of a woman suspected to be in difficulty in the surf along the Sea Point shoreline near to Queens Beach, Sea Point.NSRI Table Bay prepared to launch our sea rescue craft Spirit of Day and NSRI Bakoven duty crew prepared to launch the sea rescue craft Rotarian Schipper and NSRI rescue crew responded directly to the scene, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services and a Fire Rescue Dive Unit were already responding and CoCT Metro Police, the SA Police Services and ADT officers were already on the scene.Community Medics responded and WC Government Health EMS were on alert.On arrival on the scene we found a 26 year old Johannesburg female, on a holiday in Cape Town, had been assisted by bystanders after being trapped in between rocks while taking a walk along the rocks on the shoreline.Bystanders reported seeing the lady caught in between rocks and it appeared that waves washed over her but she appeared to hold onto a rock as waves washed over her.An ADT officer who was nearby at the time was summoned by bystanders and he called for back-up while other bystanders also raised the alarm.A local man, Errol Soetland, assisted by 2 other local men asked bystanders, who were walking their 2 Great Dane dogs on the Sea Point Promenade, if they could borrow their dog leashes and using the dog leashes that they knotted together they got near to the casualty on a steep rock and formed a human chain with the dog leashes to reach the casualty who held onto Errol while the other 2 men pulled them out from in between the rocks and from the surf during the rising tide and they then assisted her to get back to the Promenade where they were met by rescue resources who were arriving on the scene.The young lady was not injured but she was medically checked by Life Healthcare paramedics and Community Medics paramedics and she required no further assistance.The bystanders, the Great Dane owners and the 3 good samaritans who assisted the lady (NSRI have not been able to reach the 3 men directly) are commended for their assistance.