- A local hero, Brandon Janeka, rescued two people from drowning at Table View Beach after battling strong currents.
- Despite others hesitating, Janeka quickly sprang into action, grabbing a lifesaving buoy and pulling them to safety.
- His bravery has been praised by the community and Cape Town’s Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis.
A true hero has been recognised for his bravery after risking his life to save two people at Table View Beach recently.
Brandon Janeka (28) from Heideveld jumped into action, battling strong currents to pull them to safety. His courageous deed has earned him recognition from both the local community, Table View Policing Community Fourm (CPF) and Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, who praised his quick thinking and unwavering courage.
TygerBurger reported on local beaches from Melkbosstrand to Milnerton seeing a surge in visitors ahead of the summer season. This has resulted in a few near-drowning incidents, including the one for which Janeka was hailed a hero.
The rescue
Janeka told the newspaper it was only because he had decided to forego attending an auction in Montague Gardens that day that the women were rescued.
“I decided to take my daughter to the beach on that day. We would have gone to Dolphin Beach, but ended up at Table View Beach instead.”
He said on arriving at the beach he saw the waves were rough and unusual.
“I ignored the rough waves at first and went for a swim with my child. I noticed the water was starting to pull back with strong currents.”
Janeka said everyone there saw someone floating in the water, but no-one wanted to help.
“My fiancé shouted to the people in the water to help the person, but no-one helped.”
He said at first glance it looked as if the person was just floating, but he saw there was no movement.
“I went closer to see what was going on. She was floating and unconscious, and I just had to get her out.”
In a split second he thought of a plan to brave the rough waves.
“A man came past me with the lifesaving buoy and he went into the water. The waves just hit it out of his hands. Another boy also attempted, but no luck. The man eventually swam to the girl, but could not swim back with her as he was too tired.”
Janeka then grabbed the lifesaving buoy and swam through the rough waves to reach them.
“I eventually made it to them and we came out safe. I just want to thank everyone involved who played a part.”
Honoured
The Mayor commended the bravery of Janeka who risked his own life.
“The City commends Brandon for his bravery in selflessly swimming into rough seas to rescue a woman from drowning,” he said. “The community of Heideveld and all Capetonians can be extremely proud of this young man who risked his own life to save another, alongside several other heroes who are yet to be identified. It is incredible that these ordinary beachgoers staged this heroic rescue without thinking twice, and saved a life in the process.”
The incident occurred along a stretch of Table View coastline that experiences regular rip currents and is outside of the designated swimming areas at Big Bay and Milnerton, where lifeguards are based. No fatalities were reported on the day along the Table Bay coastline.
As the festive season approaches the City said it has deployed lifeguards to 29 different beaches, tidal pools and stretches of coast between the hours of 10:00 and 18:00. To date, 241 seasonal lifeguards have been recruited and deployed to manage the influx to beaches.
