Teen Rescued at Struisbaai After Near-Drowning Incident

Shaun Nortje, NSRI Agulhas deputy station commander, said: At 15h15, Saturday, 29 November, NSRI Agulhas crew, while conducting routine training at Struibaai Main Beach, were alerted by an eyewitness who indicated to our crew that there was a female lying face down in the water nearby, in amongst a crowd of swimmers, in the surf zone.

NSRI rescue swimmers immediately swam out through the surf zone where they reached the female teenager and were able to secure her before rescuing her to the beach where resuscitation efforts were commenced.

The female teenager, age 18, from the Robertson / Bonnievale area, regained spontaneous breathing and with NSRI crew continuing with medical care, in a serious condition, semi-conscious, suffering non-fatal drowning symptoms, we transported her to local doctors while WC Government Health EMS were activated.

On the EMS ambulance arriving at the doctors rooms the patient was transported to hospital by EMS ambulance in a serious but stable condition.

In the care of doctors and nurses the teenager is expected to make a full recovery.

The eyewitness and the NSRI's swift response are commended for saving the life of the teenager who we believe has just completed matric.

It appears that the casualty had been swimming with friends when at least 3 of them got into difficulties. They were able to get to shore and were not injured but the female teenager may have at that stage succumbed to the elements when the eyewitness noticed her in distress and raised the alarm alerting the NSRI crew who were nearby at the time.