Surfer saves drowning woman at Herolds Bay near George

An identified surfer at Herolds Bay near George helped save the life of a young woman caught in a riptide at the beach on Friday 14 February.

The NSRI Wilderness duty crew were called to attend reports of a swimmer in distress.

Young woman caught in riptide

A family member of the 21-year-old woman caught in a riptide removed an NSRI Pink Buoy which allowed them to ask bystanders to call for Sea Rescue assistance.

“At 16:03, Friday, 14 February, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated following eye-witness reports of a drowning in progress at Herolds Bay near to George,” NSRI Wilderness station commander, Garth Dominy said.

“A male family member of a female who was being swept out to sea had taken the NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy off its stand at the beach and instructed other bystanders to call NSRI and raise the alarm from the emergency information provided on the NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy pole and signage while the man, armed with the pink rescue buoy, ran along rocks to attempt to reach his family member, a 21 year old female, who while swimming was caught in rip currents and was being swept out to sea.

“The man had earlier swum out into the surf to attempt to assist her but turned around and swam back to shore after he was not able to help because of rough sea conditions that threatened his own life.

NSRI rescue swimmers responded to the scene while our NSRI duty crew responded in our sea rescue vehicle and our sea rescue craft Oscars Rescuer was towed to the scene to be launched on scene. WC Government Health EMS and ER24 ambulance services responded.”

Surfer to the rescue

Luckily for the young lady a surfer had spotted her and was able to haul her out of the water and onto his board.

“An unidentified surfer reached the female and placed the casualty female on his surfboard in the surfline and an NSRI rescue swimmer who had entered the water to assist reached them in the surfline and together the surfer and the NSRI rescue swimmer were able to get her to the shore safely.

“The female was treated on the scene for hypothermia and non-fatal drowning symptoms by ER24 paramedics and required no further assistance following treatment.

“The unidentified surfer who assisted is highly commended for his actions that contributed to saving the life of the 21 year old female and bystanders who raised the alarm are commended for their contribution.”