Rip-tide warning - NSRI

By Tando Mfengwana
06 May 2007

The National Sea rescue Institute has issued a stern warning of rip-current following two near drowning incidents yesterday.

NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon says that a 71-year-old man was taken to hospital after he fell from dollosses near Paardon Island on to the beach in Table Bay.

He says “the man from Brooklyn fractured his right patella (shoulder bone) and metro rescue had to used a stokes basket to get him out of the area.”

In another incident a 17-year-old youth had also been rescued by surfers after he was swept out to sea by strong rip-currents.

He was taken to hospital in a stable condition, for observation for secondary drowning.

Lambinon says bathers should exercise caution in the surf and around river mouths especially now where good weather entices bathers to go to the beach.

He warns that anyone caught in a rip current will be swept out to sea.

If anyone is caught they should not panic and do not try to swim against the current which will only cause exhaustion.

“Rather let the current take you out to sea and stay afloat by treading water, keep your head above and take deep slow breaths.” Wave towards the shore and shout for help to alert people and at your first opportunity swim parallel to the shore to get free of the rip-current, he says.

If anyone onshore witnesses such an incident they should call 082 911 immediately and report the incident.