Close call for Bay Hall bather

THANKS to the quick actions of an onlooker, a drowning woman’s death was averted on Saturday at the Bay Hall area in Richards Bay.

The incident occurred just before 1pm.

After pulling her out of the water, the man who rescued the 27-yearold immediately started performing CPR while a bystander notified the authorities.

The NSRI, KZN EMS (Emergency Medical Services), uMhlathuze Fire and Rescue, and ICE Medical Rescue were notified and attended the scene.

According to ICE paramedic Richard Schouten, the woman had no pulse and was not breathing when she was pulled out of the water, but her pulse returned after the man had performed CPR for about three minutes.

On their arrival, paramedics took over treatment and, once she was stabilised, ICE Medical Rescue rushed the woman to Ngwelezana Hospital in a critical condition, for further medical treatment.

The incident highlighted the opportunity provided every Sunday at 2pm by the nearby Zululand Multi Sports Club (ZMSC), which holds open water swimming lessons to people of all ages, free of charge.

For safety reasons, only 10 people can be accommodated, so bookings are essential.

Those wanting to take up this opportunity must phone ZMSC on a Sunday to book their spot, on

035 7533974.

In a separate incident, just after 4pm on Saturday NSRI launched sea rescue craft Spirit of Richards Bay to assist a man on a jet ski experiencing motor mechanical failure.

He was in the vicinity of Pelican Island and had deployed a red distress flare to raise the alarm.

An eye-witness reported the flare, notifying NSRI and the jet ski was towed to the Richards Bay Ski Boat Club.