A man went for a swim fully clothed at Sea Point this morning, 25 September, at 8.30 and narrowly missed being swept out to sea.
NSRI Bakoven duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) that reported a drowning in progress at Queens Beach, Sea Point. Eye-witnesses said the man was fully clothed.
He was saved by a local homeless man, Thembinkosi Gqotso, 38, who lives in the vicinity of Queens Beach, Sea Point . Gqotso waded into the surf and successfully rescued the drowning man from the surf, managing to pull him safely onto the beach before emergency services arrived on the scene. Although he was saved, he was injured and required medical care.
NSRI Bakoven, Cape Town Fire and emergency services – Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services rescue dive unit, ER24 ambulance services, the SA Police Services, WC Government Health EMS rescue squad, and Law Enforcement – alresponded to the call out. The patient received medical attention from Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services paramedics and ER24 paramedics and then transported to hospital for observation and treatment
Bruce Davidson, NSRI Bakoven station commander, said it was unknown what caused the patient, who was in Cape Town for a conference, to go into the water fully clothed. He added that Gqotso is commended for his actions today.
Edited by St Francis Chronicle
St Francis Chronicle 