Zimbabwean volunteer dies after sea rescue in Plett

By Ilhaam Hoosain
3 March 2008

On Sunday at 5PM the National Sea Rescue Institute’s, Plettenberg Bay Station responded to a report of a drowning in progress at the Wedge, on Central Beach in Plettenberg Bay.

“On arrival we found the 19 year old male, pulse-less and not breathing, on the beach after he had been rescued from the surf by two local male by-standers, Wihaam Kotze and Logan Harris,” said Ray Farnham, Station Commander.

According to Farnham CPR efforts were initiated and during the efforts the man’s pulse and breathing was restored and he was transported to hospital. Later in the day he was pronounced dead. He was from Zimbabwe and was volunteering at Monkeyland in Plettenberg Bay.

After a set of waves they found themselves deep in the surf.

According to reports 7 volunteers, some from South Africa and some international volunteers, were swimming in waist-high water, when a set of waves pulled them deeper in. The deceased — who apparently couldn’t swim — was left behind. A female friend tried to rescue him but feared for her life.

She was rescued by fellow volunteers, but the man was swept away.

“Two local bystanders went into the surf and managed to rescue the man from the water before our rescuers arrived on the scene,” according to Farnham.

In a seperate incident, 5:34PM on Sunday, NSRI volunteers launched their rescue craft, Sally Joan, to respond to the Point at Whale Rock where a red distress flare had been fired from two local men after their Hobie Cat mast de-masted off-shore.

“On the arrival on-scene the NSRI crew took them under tow and brought them safely to shore where no further assistance was required,” says Furnham.