NSRI Life Boat Club member rescued on the wild-side of Gqeberha

Terrence Grewar, 74-year-old retiree from the hamlet of Schoenmakerskop, on the wild-side of Gqeberha, had taken up a new hobby of paddling. He joined a paddling club based at the North End Lake and upskilled himself to a point where he was confident to launch from the gulley below his seaside retirement village, along with his experienced surfski friends and villagers, Norrie and Joyce Gibson.

The three friends launched their skis on the morning of 2nd November 2023. They were paddling out of the gulley when a wave crested and knocked Terrence off his ski. He had not yet leashed himself to his boat, and it rolled away out of reach towards the beach. He decided to swim back to shore but the outgoing surge was too strong for him to make progress.

Norrie, who was out of the gulley, turned and seeing what had happened, he paddled back to his friend in the water to assist. Terrence held onto his friend’s ski but with the extra drag created, Norrie was unable to make headway back to shore. Terrence let go and attempted to swim to the rocks marking the outside edge of the gulley. However, as he got within an arm's length of the rocks, the rip current pulled him straight out to sea. He describes it as like being on a ZIPLINE, hurtling along at break-neck speed.

Norrie, a retired surgeon, realising the severity of the situation, paddled out to Terrence, beyond the breakers, to stay with him and asked his wife Joyce, to head back to shore and call the NSRI for assistance. Luckily the crew from Station 6 were heading back from an earlier call-out and diverted to Schoenmakerskop.

They quickly assessed that putting a rescue swimmer into the gulley to swim out to Terrence, would be too risky. They opted to launch the Eddie Beaumont II from the satellite station at Noordhoek Ski Boat Club, 10km away by road. One Station 6 rescue volunteer remained on site with radio communications to keep a visual on Terrence and Norrie.

Norrie with his medical knowledge, knew that they were in a fight against time.

Terrence, in the icy water, was already showing signs of hypothermia and exhaustion. Terrence held on to Norrie’s surfski while Norrie continued to engage him in conversation, keeping him alert and in a positive mindset. When the rescue boat arrived on scene, Terrence was unable to hold on any longer, nor swim unassisted to the vessel. A rescue swimmer was deployed and pulled Terrence from the water onto the boat.

Terrence had been in the water for just under two hours and was severely hypothermic and unable to speak. The two NSRI crew on board huddled him for warmth while coxswain, Stephen Van Den Berg, made haste back to the rescue base.

They were met on the beach by Gardmed Ambulance Service and Terrence’s wife, Melinda, who describes her husband as “looking like a frozen chicken wing” when he was brought off the rescue vessel.

Terrence was stabilized and transported to the hospital where he was in critical care with stage 4 hypothermia, requiring intubation and rewarming medical treatment. He awoke within 24 hours and made a full recovery. He has since got back on his surfski, paddling out through the same gulley but now always carries his cellphone with the Safetrx app running.

*Norrie, managed to paddle back to shore safely without requiring any assistance and has been commended for his role in rescuing Terrence.

The NSRI Life Boat Club is our free membership for over 50s; a group of like-minded people who admire and support the NSRI. Our members include retired crew and those who want to stay connected with the NSRI. Our team of guest speakers host teas, talks around the country, and invite members for base tours and special occasions such as boat blessings and base openings.

If you know of someone who would like to belong to the NSRI Life Boat Club please contact Gerrie Niemand gerrie@searescue.org.za

Story by Judy Venter