Couple rescued: Still Bay

George Sabbagha, NSRI Still Bay station commander, said:NSRI Still Bay duty crew were activated on Thursday, 21 November, at 17h35, following eye witness reports of 2 swimmers suspected to be in difficulties swimming offshore of the mouth of the Goukou River.Eye-witnesses indicated that they could not be certain if the 2 swimmers were in difficulty but they raised the alarm as a precaution.Our NSRI Station 31 meeting was under way at our NSRI Still Bay sea rescue base at the time resulting in an immediate launch of our sea rescue craft Colorpress Too and WC Government Health EMS were activated to respond.Following a brief search at the river mouth we found a couple, a 27 year old male and 22 year old female from Jongensfontein, 250 meters off-shore of the river mouth, behind the backline, the female was supporting the man to stay afloat and he was unconscious in the water.They were rescued onto our sea rescue craft and brought safely into Still Bay harbour with our NSRI medics treating the couple for hypothermia and non-fatal drowning symptoms.Once ashore our NSRI medics and the EMS paramedics treated the female for hypothermia and the man was treated for hypothermia and non-fatal drowning symptoms and stabilised and he regained consciousness.Following medical treatment the lady required no further medical assistance and she was released into the care of family and the man was transported to hospital by EMS ambulance in a serious but stable condition. He recovered in hospital and he was released on Friday.It appears that they had been swimming at the river mouth and were caught in rip currents and swept to beyond the backline.The lady is commended for assisting her partner and the bystanders who raised the alarm are commended. TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE