MOSSEL BAY NEWS - A teenager was saved from a rip current at Hartenbos when, fortunately, the owners of a private ambulance service were on the beach when the near-drowning took place.

Craig Lambinon, the national spokesperson for the NSRI, said: "During the afternoon of Thursday, 17 January, Thea Fox Marx, the wife of Tommie Marx, the owner of Private Care ambulance services, Eastern Cape, happened to be at Hartenbos Beach with friends.

"She noticed a young lady in difficulty in the surf."

Thea recounted to the NSRI the events as they unfolded.

"At first I wasn't completely sure if the young lady was in fact drowning, but when her head went underwater and a man raced into the surf, I made the decision to react and help," said Thea.

"Using the NSRI pink rescue buoy stationed at Hartenbos Beach, I entered the water and reached the casualty, a local 18-year-old female, and the man who was assisting. He has not been identified.

"We were all caught in a rip current and we were using the NSRI pink rescue buoy for floatation but the effort was extremely exhausting and it occurred to me how many times a good Samaritan, in the same situation, may have succumbed to the elements.

"Eventually we were able to move sideways, out of the rip current, and we all got to shore safely," said Thea.

No one was injured.

NSRI Station 15 Mossel Bay had been alerted and while crew were launching a sea rescue craft, the NSRI was called by bystanders on the scene confirming that everyone was safely out of the water and there were no injuries.

The teenager who was rescued confirmed to Thea that she grew up in the area and was swimming at the beach with two siblings when she was caught in a rip current. She often swam there. She thanked Thea for her assistance and she sent thanks to the man who assisted them, but he had left before they could thank him personally.

The NSRI commend Thea and the unidentified man for their effort in saving the life of the teenager.

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