The final volleyball match of the day underway on Wilderness beach.
At 16h15 on Saturday 25th February during a fund raising volleyball event at Wilderness Beach, an hour after sea rescue volunteers had thrilled the large crowd with a sea rescue demonstration in the surf and during the final match of the competition, it was noticed that two men were getting into difficulty in a rip-current that had formed where they were swimming.
NSRI rescuers saw that both men were in danger and turned their attention to launching a rescue.
NSRI sea rescue swimmer Torsten Henschel swam after the two men while the duty crew launched our sea rescue craft Die Swart Tobie and responded.
One of the men managed to get safely to shore and Torsten reached the second man, Gerald Akakios, 48, from Las Vegas, USA, about 50 to 100 meters out to sea. He was struggling to keep his head above water and Torsten secured him using a floatation rescue device.
Our sea rescue boat reached them shortly thereafter and Gerald was whisked out of the surf and brought ashore where he was checked out by our medics.
The Volleyball match had come to a grinding halt during the rescue operation but resumed after it was confirmed that the casualty was safe.
The two men were not together but just happened to be swimming in the same vicinity when the rip-current formed and began to drag them both out to sea at the same time.
The two men waving for help.
Sea Rescue swimmer Torsten Henschel on his way.
Rescue swimmer Torsten Henschel reaches Gerald Akakios.
Torsten secures Gerald.
The rescue boat Die Swart Tobie is launched.
Gerald is pulled into the rescue boat Die Swart Tobie.
- NSRI
SAWDOS: Great work by all involved!! The set of photos explains the rescue effort in detail and can we all learn from this event. These images clearly demonstrate the professionalism and motivation of the NSRI in saving lives.
No comments:
Post a Comment