On Saturday morning, 10 October, while preparing for routine training at Yzerfontein Harbour with NSRI Yzerfontein and NSRI Melkbosstrand crew a boy and a dog were rescued.

Danie Verwey, NSRI regional operations manager said rescue crew were alerted by bystanders indicating a child and his dog in difficulty in the harbour next to the slipway.

“Our NSRI Yzerfontein, NSRI Melkbosstrand and NSRI VSC (volunteer support centre) crew, nearby at the time, responded – finding a child, wearing a life jacket, and his dog, appearing to be in difficulty in the water in the harbour.”

NSRI rescue swimmers entered the water and were able to get the child and the dog recovered safely to shore. The child was taken into the care of his parents, with their dog, and they attended at a local doctor as a precaution.

“It appears that the 9-year-old child was preparing to join family on paddle craft in the harbour when their dog ran after family, who were already paddling on paddle craft in the harbour, pulling the child with the dog leash into the water where they found themselves in a spot of trouble, caught in a rip current, with the dog appearing to cling on to the child for floatation.”

The family are locals from Cape Town.

The swift response and the alert by bystanders is commended, he adds.

ALSO READ: Boy (9) dies after being found underwater in lagoon at Kleinmond