An NSRI Hout Bay rescue swimmer, on holiday to Hawaii, together with a South African friend, living in Hawaii, and a fellow sailor, assist 2 ladies from a car sinking in a harbour
On Saturday afternoon, 29 April, NSRI Hout Bay rescue swimmer Martin Wesemann, on a holiday to Hawaii, his friend, Sean, and a fellow sailor, Tony, assisted 2 females, believed to be sisters, from a car that appeared to accidentally drive down a boat slip-way into the Honokohau Marina and Small Boat Harbour, KAILUA-KONA, HAWAII.
Myself, a South African friend, Sean Hutchinson (Sean lives in Hawaii), and friends of ours, had returned from a cruise on Sean's boat, said Martin.
We were on the boat next to the slip-way when we noticed the vehicle, with a female driver and a female passenger, drive past us down the slipway without pausing and the vehicle entered the water before floating further into the harbour and beginning to sink.
Both ladies were preparing to escape through the vehicles' front windows and naturally, Sean, and our fellow sailor Tony, and myself jumped into the water to assist them.
We were able to help them to escape the sinking vehicle, through the front driver and front passenger windows, getting them both safely to shore without incident.
Police, Fire and Rescue Services and an ambulance arrived promptly.
By that stage, Martin had established a towline to the vehicle using a rope.
The towline was established to the axle (as there was no tow bar on the vehicle) under the car, underwater, using a bowline knot, said Martin.
The 2 ladies were not injured and we believe the vehicle navigation system may have accidentally led them to drive down the slip-way.
We were in the right place at the right time to help them, said Martin.
An "INSIDE EDITION" video captures the moment. In that video ... I am wearing the grey shirt, Tony is wearing the red shirt and Sean is in the black shirt, said Martin.
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