Two Men Rescued from Rip Currents at Wilderness Beach

Jonathan Britton, NSRI Wilderness station commander, said: At 13h12, Sunday, 7 December, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated following reports from the George Municipal NSRI lifeguards at Leentjiesklip, Wilderness Beach, who were responding to 2 persons in distress in the surf zone - both casualties appeared to be caught in rip currents.

George Municipal NSRI lifeguards launched into the water while our NSRI Wilderness duty crew responded to our NSRI Wilderness station 23 rescue base where the NSRI rescue craft JetRIB Anne Stratford was launched while our NSRI quad bike responded - transporting additional lifeguards to the scene.

WC Government Health EMS were activated.

Lifeguards reached the 2 adult male casualties in the surf zone securing one of the casualties where lifeguards rescued that casualty to shore safely without incident.

Additional lifeguards had gone towards the second male casualty who had initially indicated that he did not require assistance, however he was being swept further out to sea in strong rip currents to beyond the back breakers.

Lifeguards reached the second casualty - staying with him until the NSRI rescue craft JetRIB Anne Stratford arrived on the scene - where that casualty was taken onboard the NSRI rescue craft and he was brought to shore safely without incident.

The 2 men, one believed to be a local, and one believed to be from Cape Town, were not injured and they required no further assistance.

The swift response is commended.