Seven teenage friends trapped in a flooded cove in the Gordon’s Bay area have been reunited with their families.
The NSRI Gordon’s Bay crew, activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), responded to Dappat se Gat at Kogel Bay on Tuesday after parents of the teenagers, all aged 18, alerted them.
“On arrival on the scene, we found the seven teenagers, three males and four females, from Stellenbosch and Paarl. (They) were cut off by the high tide, still showing the effects of the recent September 9th peak of the new moon spring high tide.
“Although safe in a cove at Dappat se Gat, with daylight fading, efforts to get them safely out of the cove became the priority. Concerned parents had also arrived at the scene,” said NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon.
Lambinon said NSRI rescue swimmers reached the teenagers using the lull in the incoming waves and timing the incoming wave sets to wade through chest-deep water.
“A rope system was set up and safety equipment was taken to the cove by our rescue swimmers. The teenagers were placed in life jackets and rescue helmets and one by one our rescue swimmers waded the teenagers, in relays, through chest-deep surf.
“Once all teenagers were safely extricated from the cove, they were reunited with (their) family.”