Had it not been the timely intervention of some brother and their friend, two men would left this world.
The incident reportedly happened in Rooi Els, Western Cape, on Friday. This was revealed by the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) in a recent statement.
The NSRI Kleinmond spokesperson, Tania Meiring indicated that the local duty crew were activated at 7.18am on Friday following reports of a drowning in progress in Rooi Els.
The two men who were reportedly drowning were swept off the rocks while crayfishing and were being swept out to sea.
They had a floatation tube thrown to them by friends on the shore and they were holding onto it, however, they were finding it difficult to reach the rocks due to the heavy sea conditions.
The NSRI Kleinmond then dispatched some rescue swimmers to the scene. However, three local men, William Boltmann, his brother Richard, and their friend Francois Koekemoer, were preparing to go crayfishing on their rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) when they were informed by an NSRI coast-watcher of the crisis.
They then launched their boat, taking with them the NSRI pink rescue buoy from the slipway and the success of the rescue team was due to their efforts.
When the NSRI rescue swimmers got to the scene, both casualties were safe and were taken into the care of GB Med Sec paramedics, who treated them for non-fatal drowning symptoms and for hypothermia.
Source: wordpress-658228-2149802.cloudwaysapps.com
