Life-Saving Rescue at Buffalo Bay After Non-Fatal Drowning

Jerome Simonis, NSRI Knysna station commander, said: At 12h47, Wednesday, 26 November, NSRI Knysna duty crew and NSRI lifeguards were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Main Beach, Buffalo Bay, Knysna.

Sea conditions in the Knysna Heads were too rough to launch NSRI rescue craft from the NSRI Knysna station 12 rescue base.

An off-duty NSRI lifeguard manager, at the beach surfing at the time, responded while NSRI crew and NSRI lifeguards, using the NSRI Knysna rescue vehicle and private vehicles, WC Government Health EMS ambulance and response paramedics and Police WPDS (Water Policing and Diving Services) responded.

While responding to the scene it was reported that 2 local surfers, Good Samaritans, while surfing at Buffalo
Bay, had noticed an adult male in distress, caught in rip currents and disappearing under water, in the surf zone, at Main Beach, Buffalo Bay.

They had gone to the man's assistance and were able to reach him and pull him onto a surfboard, bringing the man closer towards the shoreline.

A local off-duty NSRI lifeguard manager, nearby at the time, who had been surfing, responded and raised the alarm after hearing a commotion in the surf zone and seeing the 2 surfers engaged in their attempts to rescue the man.

Our local NSRI lifeguard manager launched into the surf, using his surfboard, reaching the 2 Good Samaritan surfers who had by that stage reached a submerged sand bank where our NSRI lifeguard, assisted by the 2 Good Samaritan surfers, successfully rescued the man to the beach.

The off-duty NSRI lifeguard manager initiated medical care to the casualty man who was unresponsive and he was assisted by 3 doctors who happened to be at the beach at the time.

The NSRI lifeguard manager and the 3 doctors were joined by NSRI crew and Police divers (WPDS), where oxygen was administered to the unresponsive Mozambican man, believed to be aged in his 20's, stabilising the man who was in a serious condition, suffering non-fatal drowning symptoms.

EMS paramedics joined the medical efforts on the beach.

The man was stabilised and transported to hospital by EMS ambulance in a serious but stable condition where he is recovering in the care of doctors and nurses.

NSRI commend our off duty NSRI lifeguard manager for his swift response swiftly taking control of the scene, and we commend the 2 Good Samaritan surfers, the 3 doctors, Police WPDS, NSRI crew, and the EMS paramedics, whose combined efforts contributed to saving the life of the man.

With the festive season now upon us the extensive preparation and combined efforts of all emergency services, and our local lifeguards, who are the publics first line of defense to the prevention drowning accidents, in cooperation with Knysna Municipality, is commended.