MOSSEL BAY NEWS - A woman was rescued from strong rip currents when a skilled local angler, fishing at Dias Beach in Mossel Bay, hooked her jeans and reeled her in, early on Wednesday, 18 December.

According to National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesperson Craig Lambinon, it was just before 01:00 on Wednesday when the NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew were alerted that a swimmer was in difficulty in the surf at Dias Beach.

Lambinon said NSRI Mossel Bay rescue swimmers, the police, Frontier Medix ambulance services, Western Cape Provincial Traffic Services and Mossel Bay Fire and Rescue Services responded.

He said that when the emergency services arrived at the scene, the 31-year-old woman from George was safe on the beach.

Reports indicate that the woman had decided to take a midnight dip, but was caught in rip currents in the spring low tide.

"Fishermen, angling from the shoreline, witnessed the lady in the water and a local fisherman cast his line in her direction, with a kabeljou fishhook on the end," said Lambinon.

"The fishhook attached (hooked) to her jeans and the fisherman was able to reel her in towards the beach, where, once she reached waist-deep water, a fisherman waded into the water and helped her out, on to the beach."

Lambinon commended the angler for his effort, which contributed to saving the woman's life. 

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