MOSSEL BAY NEWS - A Cape Town paramedic on holiday in Mossel Bay with his family was “at the right place at the right time” at the Hartenbos Seefront Centre on Saturday 24 January when he helped save a four-year-old boy from drowning at the ATKV-Hartenbos Fun Park.
Taufeeq Kamaar, a paramedic of 12 years, said he had travelled down to Mossel Bay with his family on Friday afternoon and on Saturday, they all went to the park.
He was about to get out of the pool that afternoon when he came across a young boy floating face-down.
Initially, Kamaar thought the child was playing around.
“Then I saw the child was motionless for too long. I grabbed his arm and saw vomitus in his mouth, and knew something was wrong,” he said.
As he was exiting the pool with the boy, some ATKV lifeguards ran over to help. “I assessed the boy and he had a pulse, but he was unresponsive and his breathing was irregular.”
The boy started coughing and regaining his consciousness. He was put on his side, in the recovery position, and Kamaar stimulated him to keep him awake while they waited for the ambulance crew.
The ATKV-Hartenbos Fun Park at the Hartenbos Seefront Centre. Photo: ATKV-Hartenbos
The child’s mother had come to his side just after he had been pulled from the pool, and Kamaar did his best to calm her down and assure her he and the lifeguards were handling the situation.
The boy was taken to the park’s entrance where an ambulance picked him up and transported him to a nearby hospital for further treatment.
Mossel Bay Advertiser has learnt through a family friend that the child had been discharged from hospital on Sunday 25 January and was doing well.
The family asked that the mother and child remain anonymous.
Kamaar said the mother had also called him on Sunday to let him know her son was doing well and to thank him for saving him.
“I was at the right place at the right time. Alhamdulillah,” said Kamaar.
“The lifeguards at the park were very quick and helped handle the situation extremely well. I am grateful that the boy was OK,” he said.
Mornay Beukes, manager of ATKV Hartenbos, confirmed the incident and said as soon as the lifeguards had seen what was going on, they jumped in to help Kamaar.
“I want to thank everyone who helped, our guest and the lifeguards. All procedures were correctly followed and we are thankful the boy is fine,” he said.
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