For the third time in three weeks, the Milnerton Surf Lifesaving Club’s lifeguards responded to a drowning in progress – this time at Milnerton Beach where a 14-year-old girl was swept out in a rip current on Saturday.
Luckily the club’s captain, Charl Jones, saw the teen being caught in the surf while attending a private function at the club.
“I immediately responded and luckily I didn’t have any formal clothes on and managed to take off the shirt I was wearing,” he says.
He jumped in with a rescue torpedo buoy and managed to reach and secure the teen about 100 m offshore.
While Jones tried to swim the cold and exhausted girl back to the beach, a bystander called a club member who responded with her son, Luca Zumpt. They then alerted Ariel Mausenbaum, also a member of the club, who responded from home.
“Several bystanders also tried to assist and a surfer managed to get a malibu board from the club to Jones and his patient at backline,” the club says.
Jones started the long paddle back to shore with his patient and when Mausenbaum arrived at the beach, he used a rescue board to assist Jones to get her to shore.
“Zumpt assisted a bystander who got in trouble when he tried to help and lost his board,” the club says.
The patient was stabilised and transported to the hospital by ER24.
“Thank you to everyone involved tonight. Thanks to Charl’s vigilance and everyone’s quick, selfless response, another young life was saved. We salute you, our heroes,” the club says.
Safety first
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) sent several warnings to beachgoers in recent weeks to remain vigilant and to be on the lookout for rip currents.
The NSRI says beachgoers should avoid attempting a rescue themself.
“If you see someone in difficulty, call a lifeguard at once or dial the nearest NSRI station or 112 from your cellphone, they advise.
“After calling for help, try and throw something that floats to the person in difficulty. If there is a Pink Rescue Buoy in close proximity, this can be used as flotation until help arrives. If you do ever attempt a bystander rescue, do so only if you can swim and are able to take flotation with you. Tell someone on the beach to call 112 before you go in.
“While you are looking after children in or near water, you need to focus on them and nothing else. Remember – drowning is silent.”
