Herolds Bay – Wednesday, 3 February:

Mike Vonk, NSRI Wilderness deputy station commander, said:At 17h29, Wednesday, 3 February, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Herolds Bay.NSRI Wilderness, ER24 ambulance services and a WC Government Health EMS rescue squad responded.While responding to the scene it was confirmed by eye-witnesses that a 14 year old female had been recovered from the water onto the beach.Off-duty medical professionals, a doctor, an ER24 paramedic and a nurse, believed to be an ICU nurse, who happened to be on the beach at the time, had initiated CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) efforts.NSRI Wilderness contacted the key holder of a recently donated garage facility in Herolds Bay that holds NSRI emergency equipment instructing them to open the facility and to take the medical equipment to the off-duty medical professionals who were assisting on the scene.The doctor, nurse and paramedic immediately made use of that emergency medical equipment to assist in their resuscitation efforts.ER24 paramedics, NSRI Wilderness medics and EMS paramedics arrived on the scene and efforts to resuscitate the teenager continued.In a critical condition the teenager was transported to hospital by ER24 ambulance where she continues to receive medical care in hospital.Our thoughts are with the family in this difficult time and all hopes are that she recovers.NSRI commend the off duty medical professionals who happened to be at the beach for their assistance.We commend the swift response of the emergency services and the bystanders who reacted quickly providing the medical equipment from the donated NSRI garage facility at Herolds Bay.