Good Samaritan's swift action saves swimmer at Strand Beach

Johan Otto had just finished a paddle at Strand Beach on Monday, 21 September, when he noticed a commotion in the surf: a man was being swept out to sea in rip currents, struggling to keep his head above water. What Johan did next undoubtedly saved a life.

At 15h28 on Monday, 21 September, NSRI Gordons Bay duty crew were activated following reports from the NSRI Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) of a swimmer in distress, caught in rip currents in the surf zone at Strand Beach.

NSRI rescue swimmers responded directly to the scene, while NSRI Gordons Bay crew responded to the Gordons Bay auxiliary satellite station at Strand Beach to prepare to launch a rescue craft. The City of Cape Town water rescue network was alerted, and the SA Police Service, WC Government Health EMS, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service, GB Med Sec ambulance service and CoCT Law Enforcement all responded.

While responding to the scene, it became clear that a man on a surf-ski, a Good Samaritan, had already reached the casualty and was helping to keep his head above water, using the surf-ski's floatation to secure him while swimming both the ski and the casualty towards shore. As they neared the shoreline, an unidentified man waded into the water to assist.

On arrival, an NSRI rescue swimmer launched into the surf, reaching the group as they neared the beach, and helped bring the casualty safely to shore. The NSRI Gordons Bay quad rescue bike responded with medical gear, and treatment began on the beach for the patient, who was in a serious condition showing signs of non-fatal drowning.

GB Med Sec paramedics joined NSRI on the beach to continue treatment, and the patient, a 26-year-old man from Strand, was transported to hospital in a serious but stable condition. He is reported to be recovering well and is expected to make a full recovery.

Local man Johan Otto, a commercial airline pilot, had just completed a paddle at Strand Beach when he noticed a commotion, people shouting and gesturing towards the surf zone. Looking closer, he saw a man caught in rip currents, being swept out to sea, trying to keep his head above water and wave for help, but repeatedly slipping under.

Johan launched his surf-ski back into the surf to help. Reaching the man around 50 metres offshore, in strong rip currents, he could see the man was exhausted and struggling to stay afloat. Johan encouraged him to hold onto the back of the surf-ski while he paddled towards shore, but the current kept working against them, and the casualty kept losing his grip.

Johan dismounted the surf-ski and secured the man himself, getting him to hold onto the foot straps for extra stability, using the ski as flotation while Johan swam both of them towards the beach. By his own admission, Johan was tiring too. As they neared the shoreline, he called out to a bystander for help; the man, an unidentified Good Samaritan, waded in and assisted.

At that point, NSRI and emergency services were arriving, and an NSRI Gordons Bay rescue swimmer launched into the water to help bring the casualty safely to the beach.

NSRI has commended Johan Otto for his efforts, which without doubt contributed to saving the man's life, and thanked GB Med Sec paramedics for their medical treatment of the casualty on scene.