Update: Visitor rescued from Plett surf
Strong rip-currents at The Waves Beach in Keurbooms, Plettenberg Bay resulted in some difficulties for 70-year-old Oudtshoorn resident, Horst Molitor whilst he was at the coast last week.
A family visiting from Limpopo and an unidentified bystander came to the rescue of Molitor when he ran into difficulty in the surf at Keurbooms River Beach (‘The Waves’) on Wednesday, February 27. Following their efforts to save Molitor, the Jacobs family and the unknown man also encountered trouble in strong rip-currents, but they managed to help each other and Molitor ashore.
Deon Truter, NSRI Plettenberg Bay station commander, reported that the volunteer duty crew responded to alerts at 13:24. The NSRI rescue craft Airlink Rescuer and Sally Joan were launched and Medlife ambulance services also responded. “On arrival on-scene we found a Dr Horst Molitor from Oudtshoorn already on the beach after being rescued by bystanders.”
Truter said that Molitor as well as the Jacobs family, Gerard Jacobs (55), his wife Olive (56) and their son Gerard Jr (26) were treated at the scene by NSRI medics for symptoms of near-drowning, before they were handed over to the care of Medlife paramedics and transported to hospital, in stable condition, for observation for secondary drowning.
The unknown man left the scene before the NSRI could ascertain his identity.
“The Jacobs family from Potgietersrus, Limpopo Province and the unidentified man are commended for their gallant efforts, putting themselves at risk to go to the rescue of Dr Molitor,” Truter concluded.
Source: Knysna-Plett Herald