With the help of an NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy, bystander Jared Saevitzon was able to save the life of a bather caught in a rip current at Sunset Beach – after “a good fight with the ocean”!
Sunset Beach offers idyllic views of Table Mountain from Blouberg, especially (you guessed it) during the golden hour of sunset. Unfortunately, what should have been an immersive experience of natural beauty for Elridge Edwards, 49, would turn into a fight for his life.
Elridge was visiting the beach with his partner and their five-year-old son, and even though he had not intended to enter the water, he answered the sea’s invitation to a sunset swim. After a short dip, he returned to the beach and played with his son, running up and down the beach on the wet sand. After a while, he decided to return to the water.
Initially, it was shallow, so he went in further, diving through the waves, eventually flipping onto his back to float.
Without realising it, Elridge was pulled into in a rip current, which slowly drew him away from the beach. When he flipped back onto his stomach, he realised that he was much further out than he had assumed and began swimming back to the beach. Due to the rip current, however, he made no progress, and after several failed attempts, he decided to call for help.
Thankfully, Jared Saevitzon happened to be walking by with his girlfriend, heard Elridge’s faint call for help, and decided to respond.
Another bystander, Mark Schutte, retrieved the NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy stationed at the beach and handed it to Jared, who launched into the surf, taking it with him.
When Jared got to Elridge, he stopped a short distance from him and passed the buoy across, allowing the exhausted bather to rest and stay afloat while Jared pulled him back to the beach – but the going was tough.
“What an out-of-life [sic] experience!” says Jared. “I heard this guy shout for help. I then started rushing to take my clothes off, and the people gave me a Pink Buoy. I ran into the water as this guy was 150 meters out by the back line. As I entered the water, the temperature of the water hit me, but the adrenaline made it warmer. By the time I was halfway, the waves started picking up, and I was hoping someone on the beach who was watching would call the rescue services in case I couldn’t get him back to shore. I then reached him, and he could barely speak but was mumbling for help. I passed him the buoy and started trying to pull him back in. It was a real struggle as we were getting hammered by waves; he wasn’t kicking, and the rip current was incredibly strong. So I started telling him to try and kick to help me. We then slowly managed to move back in, and I was giving it everything. A big wave hit us, and he lost the buoy, so I had to get him back on it and start swimming as hard as I could back to shore. Eventually, we reached the shore after a good fight against the ocean. I couldn’t walk; my legs were so sore from fighting so hard. He thanked me for saving his life, hugged me, and asked for my name.”
Jared said the experience left him feeling emotional and a little in shock, yet grateful that he could help.
Jared’s swift response and taking a Pink Rescue Buoy to Elridge undoubtedly saved his life.
Jared, the NSRI salutes you.
Find out more about the NSRI's Pink Rescue Buoy initiative here.
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