A local teenager, 19, drowned yesterday, December 26, at Kabeljous River mouth when he and two other boys were caught in a rip current. One of the boys, aged 13, was rescued by an angler, while the other boy managed to escape unharmed.
The teenagers reportedly waded in shallow surf during an incoming tide when they were caught in rip currents and swept out to sea. Eyewitnesses raised the alarm.
One teenager self-rescued and was not injured, while the remaining two were in difficulties in the surf zone when the NSRI and emergency services arrived on the scene.
In a media statement issued by the NSRI, Kristo Kritzinger, NSRI Jeffreys Bay station commander, said that at about 10:07, the NSRI Jeffreys Bay duty crew was activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Kabeljous River Mouth.
Two NSRI rescue crafts were launched, and NSRI rescue swimmers, the NSRI rescue vehicle, Relay EMS ambulance services, and Kouga Law Enforcement responded.
“On arrival at the scene, we found a 13-year-old local male had been rescued from the water by a fisherman who was angling from the shoreline. He had cast his fishing line in the direction of the teenager, who was able to wrap the fishing line around his wrist before being reeled to shore by the fisherman. He was taken into the care of Relay EMS paramedics.
“A second teenager had gone missing in the surf. A search was launched for the second teenager, a local male aged 19, who was missing in the surf zone. During a search, the teenager was spotted in the water where NSRI rescue swimmers were deployed to free swim towards the teenager, and an NSRI rescue swimmer was deployed from an NSRI rescue craft,” said Kritzinger.
The teenager, who was unresponsive, was recovered and taken to shore where he was declared deceased by paramedics and a doctor.
The survivor was transported to the hospital by Relay EMS ambulance in a serious but stable condition, suffering from hypothermia and non-fatal drowning symptoms.
