Surf-Skier Rescued by Good Samaritans at Morgan Bay

CORRECTION: Dr Deborah Robertson-Andersson, NSRI Kei Mouth deputy station commander, said: At 17h01, Wednesday, 10 September, NSRI Kei Mouth lifeguards, while conducting routine training at Kei Mouth, Eastern Cape, were activated following reports from Morgan Bay Hotel staff of a surf-skier, an adult male from East London, caught in strong rip currents at the backline surf zone offshore of Morgan Bay Beach.

NSRI Kei Mouth lifeguards responded while additional eyewitness reports and phone calls, from NSRI coast watchers, were received by our NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre).

Local surfer Craig Elliot, driving past where the incident was happening at the time, he noticed the surf-skier in distress and he had raised the first alarm, alerted Morgan Bay Hotel, while suiting up into his wet-suit and launching into the water to go to the assistance of the man is distress.

Local Good Samaritan surfer, Craig Elliot, paddled out into the 3 to 4 meter breaking sea surf and on reaching the surf-skier in distress he managed to secure the surf-skier who had by that stage lost his grip on his surf-ski that later washed ashore.

Morgan Bay Hotel's Richard Warren-Smith, who had received the first alarm call from Craig, was preparing his jet-ski to be launched.

On NSRI's arrival on the scene NSRI lifeguards entered the water but in extremely strong rough sea conditions and strong rip currents lifeguards were not able to reach Craig and the casualty man.

Good Samaritan Richard Warren-Smith, of Morgan Bay Hotel, launched his jet-ski and reached the 2 men at the back breakers in the surf zone, despite the extremely rough sea conditions.

Richard was able to get the casualty man onto his jet-ski and bring him safely to the shore where the man was taken into the care of NSRI lifeguards and NSRI medics where medical treatment for non-fatal drowning symptoms was commenced.

Aldersons ambulance services were activated.

Richard then relaunched his jet-ski into the sea and reached the Good Samaritan surfer Craig and was able to load him and his surfboard onto his jet-ski and negotiate the rough seas to get Craig safely back to shore.

Following medical treatment to the casualty adult male surf-skier - he recovered and declined any further medical care (Aldersons ambulance services were stood down).

The actions, on Wednesday, of both Good Samaritans, surfer Craig Elliot and jet-skier Richard Warren-Smith, are commended for contributing to saving the life of the East London surf-skier against incredibly rough seas and strong sea currents.

See original statement below...

Dr Deborah Robertson, NSRI Kei Mouth station commander, said:

At 17h01, Wednesday, 10 September, NSRI Kei Mouth lifeguards, while conducting routine training at Kei Mouth, Eastern Cape, were activated following reports from Morgan Bay Hotel staff of a surf-skier, an adult male from East London, caught in strong rip currents at the backline surf zone offshore of Morgan Bay Beach.

NSRI Kei Mouth lifeguards responded while additional eyewitness reports and phone calls, from NSRI coast watchers, were received by our NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre).

Local surfer Craig Elliot, driving past where the incident was happening at the time, he noticed the surf-skier in distress and he had raised the first alarm, alerted Morgan Bay Hotel, while suiting up into his wet-suit and launching into the water to go to the assistance of the man is distress.

Local Good Samaritan surfer, Craig Elliot, paddled out into the 3 to 4 meter breaking sea surf and on reaching the surf-skier in distress he managed to secure the surf-skier who had by that stage lost his grip on his surf-ski that later washed ashore.

Morgan Bay Hotel's Richard Warren-Smith, who had received the first alarm call from Craig, was preparing his jet-ski to be launched.

On NSRI's arrival on the scene NSRI lifeguards entered the water but in extremely strong rough sea conditions and strong rip currents lifeguards were not able to reach Craig and the casualty man.

Good Samaritan Richard Warren-Smith, of Morgan Bay Hotel, launched his jet-ski and reached the 2 men at the back breakers in the surf zone, despite the extremely rough sea conditions.

Richard was able to get the casualty man onto his jet-ski and bring him safely to the shore where the man was taken into the care of NSRI lifeguards and NSRI medics where medical treatment for non-fatal drowning symptoms was commenced.

Aldersons ambulance services were activated.

Richard then relaunched his jet-ski into the sea and reached the Good Samaritan surfer Craig and was able to load him and his surfboard onto his jet-ski and negotiate the rough seas to get Craig safely back to shore.

Following medical treatment to the casualty adult male surf-skier - he recovered and declined any further medical care (Aldersons ambulance services were stood down).

The actions, on Wednesday, of both Good Samaritans, surfer Craig Elliot and jet-skier Richard Warren-Smith, are commended for contributing to saving the life of the East London surf-skier against incredibly rough seas and strong sea currents.