NSRI Durban: Good Samaritans Rescue Man Swept Up Umgeni River

Durban, 1 September – At 15h13 on Monday, 31 August, NSRI Durban duty crew and the KZN Surf Rescue network were activated after eyewitnesses reported a man in distress on the Umgeni River, being swept upstream between the two roadway bridges on the incoming tide. NSRI Durban rescue swimmers, eThekwini Municipal lifeguards, eThekwini Municipal Coastal Water members and Netcare 911 responded.

The man, a Shembe congregant, had been taking part in a baptism at the shallow shoreline of the Umgeni River mouth when he was caught in the incoming spring tide and swept upriver.

Local security officers who witnessed the incident followed him along the riverbank, shouting to raise the alarm. Fisherman Roland Theron, of Blue Lagoon Fishing Club, heard the commotion and made the first emergency call to NSRI. Njabulu Zondi, a car guard at Kingfisher Canoe Club, saw the man drifting past and stopped local paddler Tony Botes, who was leaving the parking area, urging him to relaunch his surf-ski to help. Njabulu assisted Tony to launch while also phoning NSRI to escalate the alarm.

Tony reached the man about 50 metres from the riverbank and 400 metres upstream. The man was clearly in distress and tried to hold onto the surf-ski, but Tony paddled clear, aware that a capsize would put them both at risk. Gently talking to the man and showing him that he had only one leg, Tony encouraged him to float on his back to stay afloat. The man complied, occasionally rolling over, with Tony repeatedly calling him back onto his back, until they reached a shallow sandbank where the man could stand in waist- to chest-deep water.

Matriculant Cole Nienhuser, 18, of Clifton College, a paddler with former lifeguarding experience, had been training at the Kingfisher Canoe Club gym and saw the rescue underway. He swam out to assist, and on reaching the pair, recognised Tony as a family friend. Cole spoke calmly to the casualty, and together he and Tony agreed to use the shallow sandbanks where possible and swim the deeper sections to bring the man to shore.

Guiding the man along the sandbank in waist-deep water, Cole explained how he would hold him using lifeguard technique for the deeper crossing. Reaching the deep section, Cole took hold of the man and swam him through to the shoreline, where Njabulu and Roland were waiting to help bring him out of the water and assist Tony with his surf-ski. Rescue resources arrived on scene shortly after.

The man was medically assessed and required no further care. NSRI arranged transport for him, and he has since expressed his deep appreciation to his rescuers.

NSRI commends the local security officers for raising the alarm, Roland Theron for making the first emergency call, Njabulu Zondi for his quick thinking in launching the rescue and alerting NSRI, and Good Samaritans Tony Botes and Cole Nienhuser, whose swift and selfless actions saved the man's life.