MOSSEL BAY NEWS - A student visiting Mossel Bay from Durbanville, Cape Town, has been commended for his rescue efforts that contributed to saving the life of a woman caught in sea rip currents.
A statement from the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) noted that at 16:35 on Thursday, 16 January, NSRI Station 15 Mossel Bay duty crew were alerted of a drowning in progress, offshore of Die Poort swimming spot at The Point, Mossel Bay, following multiple calls from bystanders and Big Blu Restaurant.
A woman (52) from Riversdale, visiting a friend in Mossel Bay, was caught in strong currents while swimming in the vicinity of Die Poort.
It appears she was unable to grab a hold of the safety ropes in the water at Die Poort, before being swept out to sea.
She was then carried by the sea currents across the shoreline towards The Point.
Eyewitnesses raced to Big Blu Restaurant and asked staff to raise the alarm.
A group of students on holiday in Mossel Bay who were at the restaurant and overheard the commotion, immediately offered their assistance and sprang into action.
They ran down to the shoreline and began searching for the woman in distress, while also searching for anything that floats that might aid them in a rescue effort.
Not finding a floating object, one of the students, Jaco du Plessis (20), dived into the water, swimming towards the woman while his friends took note of their location, following along the shoreline.
Jaco reached the woman as she was approaching to the rocky shoreline, near The Point. He then assisted her on to the rocks.
By that stage, NSRI rescue swimmers were arriving on the scene and joined Jaco's friends. Together, they assisted the woman and Jaco safely on to the rocks.
NSRI crew and rescue swimmers, By Grace ambulance services, a Western Cape Government Health Emergency Medical Services rescue squad, Mossel Bay Fire, Rescue and Disaster Management services and ER24 ambulance services responded to the scene.
Water Policing and Diving Services (WPDS) and the police's Sea Borderline Control (SBC) were also alerted.
The woman was taken into the care of paramedics and transported to hospital.
She was treated for non-fatal drowning symptoms, before being discharged into the care of her friend.
The NSRI commends Jaco and his friends for their effort that contributed to saving the life of the woman.
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