12/01/2025
BONZA BAY BEACH SEARCH AND RESCUE UPDATE
NSRI – East London – Friday, 10 January. Mass rescue operation.:
Catherine Prentice, NSRI East London station commander, said:
At 18h05, NSRI East London duty crew were activated following reports from BCM (Buffalo City Municipal) lifeguards engaged in a mass rescue operation at Bonza Bay Beach, Beacon Bay, East London.
The NSRI rescue craft Spirit of DHL was launched while NSRI rescue swimmers responded in our NSRI rescue vehicle to join BCM lifeguards, The SA Police Services, Police WPDS (Water Policing and Diving Services) and Aldersons ambulance services on the scene that was also joined by EC Government Health EMS.
2 BCM lifeguards, using a Malibu rescue board and a torpedo rescue buoy, reportedly rescued 8 persons, males and females, children and adults, from the water.
Extensive CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) efforts were conducted by paramedics and lifeguards on a (believed to be) 6 year old male. The patient has been transported to hospital by Aldersons ambulance in a critical condition with resuscitation efforts continuing.
A female (believed to be), age 20, has been transported to hospital by Aldersons ambulance in a stable condition for further care.
The remaining 6 patients were evaluated by paramedics and reported to be stable.
It appears that all casualties are accounted for.
NSRI rescue swimmers entered the water to free dive search and conduct wading sweeping line search efforts, together with our rescue craft that searched within the surf zone, the backline and beyond, as a precaution.
It remains unconfirmed the causes of the incident and Police are investigating.
All thoughts are with those affected.
No further information is immediately available.
All services remain on high alert.
The BCM lifeguards are commended for their effort and details may follow.
-ENDS-
NSRI EMERGENCY: 087 094 9774
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