Non-fatal drowning at Rocky Bay

Rocky Bay – Sunday, 18 April.Linda Putter, NSRI Rocky Bay deputy station commander, said:2 Good Samaritans armed with an NSRI pink rescue buoy contributed to a life being saved at Rocky Bay KZN on Sunday.At 13h20, Sunday, 18 April, NSRI Rocky Bay duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress off-shore of Rocky Bay.On arrival at Park Rynie Ski-boat Club we found an adult male in difficulty at the backline and he appeared to be caught in strong rip currents.The man, from Phoenix, had been picnicking at Park Rynie with his family when he went for a swim and he was caught in rip currents that swept him out to sea.A local charter operator, Neeval Ramchunder, who was in the vicinity at the time, had noticed the man in difficulty and he had grabbed the NSRI pink rescue buoy, stationed at at Park Rynie Ski Boat Club, and he launched into the water to go to the assistance of the casualty.NSRI alerted commercial fisherman Rusten Naidoo, a local known to be a strong swimmer, and Rusten also launched into the water and swam out to assist.Using the rescue buoy for floatation Neeval and Rusten rescued the casualty safely to the shore.The casualty was medically assessed and although tired from the ordeal he was not injured and he was reunited with his family who expressed their thanks to the 2 Good Samaritans for their efforts.We commend the courageous efforts of Neeval Ramchunder and Rusten Naidoo for their combined efforts that saved the life of the casualty.