Amanzimtoti's unsung heroes: Volunteers rescue swimmers from perilous rip tide

Unsung heroes of Amanzimtoti had been praised on social media for their assistance in preventing the drowning of two men at Baggies Beach on Thursday. 

Onlookers described the heroism displayed by the good Samaritans who rushed in to save the men caught in a rip tide at a designated non-bathing area. Erin Welsh, an eyewitness, stated on Facebook that the men were bodyboarding in the shallows. The water was calm, and within seconds, a massive wave pulled them in. 

“Absolutely unpredictable. They lost one board and clung onto one but the rip already had them and they eventually lost the other. The moment a family member realised what was going on, she frantically shouted for help, and the local heroes, without a second thought, jumped right in and held the boys who were visually exhausted, trying to fight the waves of the rip,” he said. 

Welsh said the rescuers are real heroes without capes and that he saw humanity in full force, strangers coming to the rescue.

“The distraught family didn't leave until they thanked everyone involved. I saw people praying over the two boys. Everyone is just grateful we didn't lose a life,” Welsh said. 

Theo Wolhuter said he was near the beach when he heard a lady scream for help. Being an avid swimmer who trained with lifeguards in Hibberdene his rescue instincts kicked in. He dived in and swam to help one of the two men. 

“I got to him in time and kept his head above water, and then the boat with the lifeguards arrived to pull them out. After they got to shore and checked the two that were in shock and not doing well, they realised there were two more people and went to fetch them too,” he said. 

Robyn Verrall, stated that his brother Jonathan Verrall was the first person in the water, and was there in the swell keeping those bathers alive. 

“He assisted the lifeguards in getting most of them into the boat and then waited in the water with a lifeguard while the boat was on the beach and assisted the others,” he said. 

“My brother is not a lifeguard; however, he did not hesitate to run and jump into the water to save those swimmers. Keep in mind, while assisting those in the water, he was clawed at, pushed underwater, as they were understandably stressed and panicked. He kept calm and kept them alive,” Verrall explained. 

Media reports stated lifeguards from Doonside Beach and Amanzimtoti Beach rushed to the scene, where they had found two people receiving medical attention on the beach sand. 

According to reports, the lifeguards demonstrated exceptional professionalism, skill, and teamwork during the rescue operation. Their swift actions and that of the volunteers resulted in the successful rescue, treatment, and stabilisation of the victims.

Regular beachgoer who posted on Facebook under the name Je-nine, stated that this was the second incident there in about a week. Last week, some people also got pulled out by the rip tide and smashed against the far side of the tidal pool.

Je-nine said: “They did not need life savers to get them out of the water, but they did need medical attention with all the cuts and scrapes they got on the rocks.” 

zainul.dawood@inl.co.za