Two local Milnerton heroes came to the rescue of two teenage girls at Milnerton Beach on Thursday 28 September, preventing a tragedy from taking place.
Storm Williamson, father of a nipper (junior lifeguard) Milnerton Surf Lifesaving Club member, and Nico Zumpt, an off-duty Milnerton lifeguard, swiftly responded to a drowning in progress at Milnerton Beach at 16:33 on Thursday. Williamson had just arrived on the beach with his children when he was alerted by the public to a drowning in progress.
He jumped into the rip current with a bodyboard as a floatation device and managed to secure both girls just in time and kept them afloat until Zumpt arrived to assist him in bringing both girls back to the beach.
“Fellow lifeguards who were out surfing and enjoying the beach assisted with stabilising the patients on the beach, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) were alerted,” the Milnerton Surf Lifesaving Club says. “Both patients were transported to hospital by EMS. We salute your vigilance and service.”
Spring tide
The club says this is the most dangerous time of year at Milnerton Beach, with sunny days and winter surf conditions as well as strong currents associated with the full-moon spring tide and no lifeguards on duty yet. “Please do not let your children go to the beach without adult supervision and swim only where and when lifeguards are on duty.”
The spring tide caused devastation, with two reported deaths last month.
Waves as high as 9,5 metres were seen across more than half of the South African coastline last month, according to reports from the South African Weather Service (SAWS).
“Gale-force winds, high swells and a spring tide (higher-than-normal tide) occurred at exactly the same time, causing a significant increase in water levels along the coast,” SAWS said. “Maximum observed wave heights were in the order of 9,5 metres along the south coast, while the east coast reported wave heights of five to 7 metres.”
The SAWS said spring tides bring more water much further up onto the coast than normal, possibly resulting in chaotic coastal conditions such as coastal flooding and intensifying near-shore hazards such as rip currents.
