NSRI beach safety camera contributes to saving the life of a teenager

On Friday, CoCT Strand lifeguards saved a 14-year-old boy and assisted two friends caught in a rip current at Strand Beach. NSRI Beach Safety Cameras spotted the emergency, and the CoCT lifeguards responded within minutes.

At 13h04 on Friday, 27 December 2024, City of Cape Town Strand lifeguards rescued a 14-year-old boy and helped two of his friends who were caught in a rip current at Strand Beach.

A group of six youngsters were wading in the surf zone outside the flags area when one was caught in a rip current and pulled away from the beach.

Two of his friends then went to try and help him.

NSRI Beach Safety Camera operator Lezhae Snyders, monitoring the camera from the NSRI’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) at the time, spotted the youth in difficulty at 13h01 and immediately alerted the CoCT Strand Lifeguards.

Two CoCT Strand lifeguards, Caydon Neuman and Jubilee van Jaarsveld, responded with Torpedo Buoys and CoCT Strand lifeguard Sthembela Khawula with a rescue board. Caydon and Jubilee reached the casualties at 13:04, three minutes after they had got into difficulty, floated them, and with the assistance of Sthembela, together the three lifeguards helped the children return to the beach, preventing what could have been three fatal drownings.

City of Cape Town Strand lifeguards and NSRI EOC are commended for this rescue.