Family assisted after being caught in rip currents.

Mark Dawson, NSRI Gqeberha station commander, said:

At 15h13, Tuesday, 15 July, NSRI Gqeberha duty crew, CWR (Coastal Water Rescue) and the Gqeberha water rescue network, were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Sardinia Bay.

NSRI crew responded to the NSRI Gqeberha station 6 rescue base where the NSRI rescue vehicle, towing our NSRI rescue craft JetRIB, responded, while NSRI rescue swimmers and CWR rescue swimmers responded directly to Sardinia Bay.

Gardmed ambulance services were activated.

While responding it was confirmed that it appeared that 3 casualties had reached rocks but appeared to be unable to get to shore.

It was later confirmed that that 2 children, age 8 and 15, males, and their dad, from George, had been caught in rip currents and were swept out to sea while swimming in shallow surf.

The incident was witnessed by 2 local females, Good Samaritans, 1 of whom is a former lifeguard at Sardinia Bay.

We believe the 8 year old had retreated from the water unaided - he was not injured.

The dad and the 15 year old remained caught in rip currents when the female former lifeguard, Good Samaritan, entered the water to assist while her friend raised the alarm.

The former lifeguard assisted the dad to rocks and then returned into the surf zone and was able to assist the teenager to rocks.

On arrival on the scene an NSRI rescue swimmer and 2 CWR rescue swimmers launched into the surf reaching the casualties and the former lifeguard at the rocks.

Together the dad and his son were rescued and assisted to shore by the rescue swimmers, assisted by the former lifeguard Good Samaritan.

The dad was taken into the care of Gardmed paramedics and transported to hospital by Gardmed ambulance in a serious condition where he remains in hospital in a stable condition recovering in the care of doctors and nurses.

The teenager was not injured.

The swift response and the assistance of the 2 Good Samaritan ladies is commended.