Two incidents at Grotto Beach, Hermanus

Mark McLagan, NSRI Hermanus Coxswain, said: At 15h36 on Thursday, 1 January, NSRI Hermanus duty crew were activated following reports from Overstrand lifeguards at Grotto Beach, who had launched a surf rescue operation for an adult male caught in rip currents.

The NSRI rescue vehicle and Western Cape Government Health EMS responded.

On arrival at the scene, an adult male, believed to be a local man, was treated for non-fatal drowning symptoms and was transported to the hospital by EMS ambulance in a stable condition.

At 18h46, NSRI Hermanus duty crew were again activated following eyewitness reports of a drowning in progress at Grotto Beach.

NSRI rescue swimmers, Overstrand Law Enforcement, Overstrand lifeguards, and Western Cape Government Health EMS responded to the scene, where a search commenced for a teenager reported missing in the surf zone.

During the search, the 18-year-old male from Helderstroom was located on the beach suffering non-fatal drowning symptoms.

NSRI and lifeguards assisted in securing the teenager into a Stokes basket stretcher, and he was carried across the beach to a waiting ambulance.

The teenager was transported to the hospital by EMS ambulance in a stable condition.