Group escapes sea tragedy
By Rhodé Marshall24 September 2007
A group of 23 tourists nearly drowned when they were pulled into sea by a strong rip current at Noordhoek beach in the Western Cape.
“It was determined that they are a group of 23 people from Europe and South Africa on a gap year tour, 12 of them had been wading in the surf at Noordhoek beach when strong rip currents began pulling them into sea,” says National Sea Rescue Institute spokesperson Craig Lambinon.
Three of the 12 were caught more severely and were swept out to sea as the waves drew them towards Chapman’s Peak Drive, while the remaining nine got back to the beach safely.
“Three men who were walking along the beach swam out to rescue the three who were being swept out to sea. The NSRI and Emergency Medical Services commend the three men for their sterling rescue effort,” says Lambinon.
Lambinon added that the 12 tourists who are all from the United Kingdom, only suffered from minor cuts caused by the rocks as well as hypothermia.
Comments