Sea drama as boys, dad struggle off Noordhoek

THE National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said it had to activate its Kommetjie duty crew when a man and his two sons got into trouble at Noordhoek.

The NSRI Kommetjie sea rescue craft IL Batello, conducting routine training at Scarborough, was diverted to respond to the incident at Noordhoek Beach.

According to a statement, the NSRI Hout Bay duty crew were alerted and sea rescue craft that were engaged in the routine training in Hout Bay were diverted to the scene.

“A CMR rescue vehicle and ambulance responded and the NSRI Kommetjie sea rescue vehicle and ATV (allterrain vehicle) responded. It appears that two male children got swept out to sea by rip currents. Their dad went after them but he was also caught by the strong rip currents.

“While NSRI and CMR were responding to the scene it was confirmed that the two boys and their dad were safe out of the water. On arrival on the scene, the father and children were treated by CMR paramedics and NSRI medics for hypothermia and they required no further assistance.”

NSRI said a local surfer, 37-year-old Nick Ornellas, from Capri, was walking on the beach when a woman alerted him to her two children and husband in difficulty in strong rip currents at Noordhoek Beach.

“Using his body board, Nick paddled out to sea and rescued the two children and brought them safely to the beach by using his board to assist with floatation.

“The dad was able to get to shore safely without assistance.”

The NSRI commended local surfer Nick Ornellas for his swift action that contributed to the two boys’ lives being saved. |

NSRI

Their dad was also caught by the strong rip currents HOUT BAY