Young life saver rescues swimmer

ONE of Port Elizabeth’s youngest lifesaver volunteers helped save a swimmer on Sunday.

Luke Palframan, 17, who starts Grade 12 at Theodor Herzl next year, only has a year of lifesaving experience under his belt.

But Palframan – who was off-duty at the time – said it was his priority to serve the community.

Grant Breetzke, who trained Palframan at Sardinia Bay, said he was impressed with the young lifesaver.

“I am really glad to see that his training just kicked in,” Breetzke said. “The swimmer was checked out at hospital and he is doing fine.”

Palframan said as soon as he realised the man was in trouble at Pollock Beach, he just went on autopilot.

“I saw a man start going under the waves. He started to struggle.

“I could see he was bit too deep. He couldn’t stand.

“He tried to grab onto a person who swam near him. Then he went under for three seconds.

“I signaled for a friend on the beach to bring a boogie board. “Another friend came to help. “I think if we were there 10 seconds later he would have lost consciousness. He was in deep trouble.

“We put him in the recovery position so that he could breath and vomit up water.”

Palframan started lifesaving at Sardinia Bay Lifesavers Club in October last year.