Physio Pam’s unselfish attitude is repaid a thousandfold in kind

We chatted about the many mundane things crew do without saving lives. They’ve probably saved more egos than lives. Their work follows a predictable progression: people who fail to stock up on fuel on a fishing trip, or inebriated leisure boaters who drive onto a reef or capsize. They treat injuries, tow back broken boats, or take provisions to under-resourced people.

A lot of energy goes into training, and admin, and ensuring gear is maintained and ready for action. Emergency calls are often an oxymoron, with emphasis on the latter half of the word: my observation not theirs.

Station commander Ian Klopper and his crew are too polite to insult those they help, showing admirable restraint at the ubiquitous idiocy of the human condition.

But when stuff happens, it happens hard. Kelly-Ann told me about a young man who had swam into the surf at Noordhoek Beach to cool off during a soccer game early this year (Thursday 4 January).

It ended tragically. He got caught in a rip current and was swept out to sea. All the NSRI could do was patrol the backline and find the body.

But one person was saved that day, and it had lifted their spirits in the midst of a grim run of body retrievals in the New Year. Who was that? I asked.

She pointed to the bodyboard and flippers, and told me the story of the woman who wiped out at their local beach. She was in a critical condition, but they managed to secure her on a trauma board and stabilise her spine.

The woman had survived – against the odds. Several people – including Pam herself – have noted how miraculous it was. Sadly, Pam has had to close her physio practice. Many Cape Town clients will be sad about that, but comforted to know that she is okay.

It is heartening to see the humanity that drives people who put in so much effort and time for what you might say is the rarest of gains.

But life is precious, and they know it.

The surfing world bid farewel to Australian Mick Fanning, who ended his professional surfing career when he came 2nd at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach this week. The wellloved Aussie was beaten by young Brazilian Italo Ferreira, 23, in the final, while veteran Australian Stephanie Gilmore won the women’s event. Jordy Smith lost controversially to Wade Carmichael, with SA fans angered by a perceived inconsistency by judges. Tour rookie Mikey February lost to Frederico Morais from Portugal in Round 2.

Small 3-4’ surf runs on open beaches today, with mild semifrontal SW onshore breezes that swing around to moderate or fresh SSE during the afternoon. Muizenberg starts off fun 2-3’ and offshore, but increasingly onshore later. Tomorrow, there is bigger swell around, despite the SSW direction, with strong SE winds. Beachbreaks have a few, but Muizenberg is blown out and ugly.