An incident occurred this morning at the main beach in Woodbridge Island, Milnerton. Allegedly two friends were planning to enjoy the morning by paddling from the beach to Cape Town harbor.
Approximately 100 meters from the beach the two surf skiers encountered some breakwater. The one surf skier said he saw his friend fall out of his boat after going trough a wave. He was uncertain whether his friend had hit his head on the boat, but he could see his friend hanging from the side of the boat. At first he was uncertain how to respond as he knew his friend was an experienced surf skier, but when he heard his friend’s call for help he quickly took action.
He rushed to the aid of his friend who was seconds away from losing consciousness. With one arm around his friend and the other clutching the surf ski he swam back to shore.
Once back on the beach he quickly turned his friend on his side before calling for help. When ER24 paramedics arrived at the scene the patient was fully conscious. Paramedics treated the patient for near drowning symptoms and hypothermia before transporting him to hospital.
The humble lifesaver told paramedics at the scene that being experienced surf skiers, they never enter the water alone as a wing man is part of the unwritten safety protocol.
Andre Visser
ER24