Lando Lombard, NSRI Hermanus deputy station commander, said: At 13h53, Saturday, 6 September, NSRI Hermanus, while at sea conducting routine training exercises, diverted 2 NSRI rescue craft, Leonard Smith and Rescue 17 Bravo, to respond to the Old Harbour, Hermanus, following eyewitness reports of a drowning in progress.
Our NSRI rescue vehicle and WC Government Health EMS responded.
On arrival on the scene we found a local female, age 50, safe on the shore in the care of an Italian doctor (who happened to be on the scene) and bystanders.
The casualty lady was treated for non-fatal drowning symptoms and she was transported to hospital by EMS ambulance in a stable condition where she is recovering in the care of doctors and nurses.
It appears that while swimming at the Old Harbour the lady may have been caught in strong rip currents and appearing to be in distress a bystander threw an NSRI pink rescue buoy towards the lady but the rescue buoy landed too far away.
An unidentified lady, a Good Samaritan, launched into the water to go to the assistance of the lady in distress.
Seeing the casualty lady in obvious severe distress and realising the gravity of the situation a German man, a Good Samaritan, recently relocated from the United States to live in Cape Town, and on a holiday to Hermanus, grabbed a second NSRI pink rescue buoy, stationed at the Old Harbour, and he also launched into the water to assist (armed with the NSRI pink rescue buoy).
By that stage the unidentified lady Good Samaritan had reached the casualty and appeared to have secured her firmly when the German man, Good Samaritan, reached them in the surf zone where together, the 2 Good Samaritans, they rescued the casualty lady to the shore where bystanders, including an Italian doctor, initiated medical care until NSRI and EMS paramedics arrived on the scene.
The swift action of the 2 Good Samaritans that saved the lady's life is commended.
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