Non-fatal drowning - Yzerfontein

Willem Lubbe, NSRI Yzerfontein Station Commander, said:At 17h09, Monday, 20th January, NSRI Yzerfontein duty crew were activated following eye-witness reports of a drowning in progress at Pearl Bay, Yzerfontein.NSRI rescue swimmers responded directly to the scene and found a 58 year old Scottish man, now living in South Africa, was safe on the beach. He'd been swept out to sea by rip-currents and was suffering non-fatal drowning symptoms.He had managed to reach a sand bank after being swept out to sea and was assisted from the water by his wife and a male friend who had waded into the surf to help him.NSRI medics initiated medical treatment on the beach and loaded him onto our NSRI Quad Bike on a stretcher and brought to our NSRI rescue base.Atlantic Medical Services had already been activated and on their arrival at our sea rescue station, paramedics took over medical care and the man was transported to hospital in a stable condition and released from hospital later.NSRI commend his wife and friend for their efforts to help him from the water and we commend the friends who called NSRI without delay. TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE