A local commercial airline pilot has been commended for his life-saving actions after jumping into treacherous rip currents on his surf-ski to rescue a 26-year-old man caught in the surf zone at Strand Beach.

The dramatic rescue unfolded on Monday afternoon at approximately 15:28, when duty crew from the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Station 9 in Gordons Bay were activated following emergency reports of a swimmer in distress.

Johan Otto, an airline pilot who had just finished paddling his surf-ski at Strand Beach, noticed a group of people on the shore shouting and gesturing wildly toward the ocean. Looking out into the water about 50 meters offshore, Otto spotted a man struggling to stay afloat in strong rip currents, repeatedly slipping under the water as he waved for help.

Without hesitation, Otto launched his surf-ski back into the heavy surf zone to reach the exhausted swimmer.

Upon reaching the casualty, Otto realized the man was too exhausted to maintain his hold on the craft against the pulling currents. Acting quickly, Otto dismounted into the water alongside the man. He secured the swimmer by guiding his hands to the surf-ski’s foot straps for added buoyancy, holding him firmly while swimming both the surf-ski and the victim toward the shoreline.

“The efforts were being hampered by the strong rip currents,” the NSRI noted, adding that Otto admitted to becoming tired during the gruelling swim back.

As Otto neared the beach, he called out for assistance. An unidentified bystander waded directly into the surf zone to help haul the pair closer to land.

Moments later, an NSRI rescue swimmer jumped into the water to assist all three men, bringing the victim safely onto the sand.

A multi-agency emergency network – including the NSRI, SA Police Service, WC Government Health EMS, Cape Town Fire and Rescue, CoCT Law Enforcement, and GB Med Sec ambulance service – responded swiftly to the scene.

NSRI responders deployed a quad rescue bike equipped with medical gear directly to the beach, immediately initiating treatment on the 26-year-old Strand resident, who was showing severe symptoms of non-fatal drowning. Paramedics from GB Med Sec joined the NSRI crew on the scene to stabilize the patient before transporting him to a local hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Hospital officials report that the young man is recovering well and is expected to make a full recovery under medical care.

The NSRI formally commended Otto for his courageous intervention, stating that his selfless efforts “without any doubt contributed to the man’s life being saved.”

The organisation also praised the unidentified Good Samaritan who waded in to assist, as well as the GB Med Sec paramedics for their prompt medical treatment on the beach.