Brave girl rescues teenager at Dias
THE National Sea Rescue Institute last night praised an 18-year-old Canadian girl tourist for her bravery in saving the life of a fellow teenager and countryman.
NSRI Simon’s Town station commander Darren Zimmerman said his duty crew and Cape Medical Response hiked to Dias Beach, Cape Point, following reports of a drowning in progress.
Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services and Table Mountain National Parks rangers were also activated.
They found an 18-year-old Canadian male out of the water.
“He was treated for nonfatal drowning symptoms and hypothermia,” Zimmerman said.
“A group of at least 30 Canadians in their teens and early twenties, students on a tour, were at the beach after arriving at Cape Point in a tour bus and some had gone swimming and body-boarding at Dias Beach.
“The 18-year-old was swept out to sea by rip currents and a fellow Canadian female, aged in the same age group, also part of the tour group, launched a body-board to go to his aid, paddling about 100 metres out to sea.
“She reached him and managed to assist the teenager to get back to the beach.
“She is commended for the rescue.”
Zimmerman said the teenager was hiked to the car park at Cape Point, secured into a Stokes basket stretcher.
He was taken to hospital by CMR ambulance in a stable condition.
Zimmerman did not identify the teenagers. He commended “all services that attended, NSRI Simon’s Town, TMNP rangers, City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services and CMR paramedics” for their response and assistance.