Jason Palmer, 16, saved the lives of three people at East Beach on Saturday.
Image: NSRI
An Eastern Cape teenager has been praised for his bravery and quick thinking after he saved the lives of three people at a local beach in Port Alfred on Saturday.
Just before 11am, members of the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) received reports of a drowning in progress at East Beach.
According to the NSRI Port Alfred deputy station commander, Gerrit Cloete, the reports were of locals, a brother and sister, ages 12 and 19, who were caught in rip currents during the turn of the high tide.
“A local teenager, Jason Palmer, who had been surfing and who was exiting the water, had noticed the two casualties being swept out to sea and he launched, with his surfboard, to go their assistance. The mom, age 42, then also launched into the water to try to assist,” Cloete said.
The incident had been posted to social media and by chance, a friend of a crew member of the NSRI saw the post and raised the alarm by calling the NSRI.
“NSRI rescue swimmers and the NSRI rescue vehicle responded to the scene while the NSRI Port Alfred crew responded to the NSRI Port Alfred station 11 rescue base where they launched the NSRI rescue craft Rescue 11 Alpha. Gardmed ambulance services were activated,” Cloete said.
However, on arrival at the scene, it was found that all three casualties, including the children’s mother were safely on the beach.
“The three casualties were assessed by paramedics and the mom, found to be suffering non-fatal drowning symptoms, was transported to the hospital by Gardmed ambulance where she was discharged following medical treatment. The remaining two casualties (children) were not injured,” Cloete said.
The 16-year-old Palmer, a learner at the Port Alfred High School is being hailed a true hero.
According to reports, Palmer noticed the teens being swept out to sea and used his surfboard to assist them. He loaded them both onto his surfboard, paddling and swimming them towards the shore. He then went back in the surf zone and he also took the mother onboard his surfboard and managed to get all three of them safely ashore.
“Jason has been commended for his efforts that saved three lives,” Cloete said.
The NSRI has also commended the local friend of an NSRI Port Alfred volunteer who had noticed the social media post and immediately raised the alarm.
The NSRI is appealing to the local public, in Port Alfred and neighbouring areas around Port Alfred, to call NSRI in a water-related emergency. To call in people/persons caught in a water-related emergency distress call the NSRI Port Alfred emergency duty phone at 082 990 5971, the NSRI National Emergency Operations Centre at 087 094 9774, or the National Emergency Number 112 (from a cellphone).
robin.francke@iol.co.za
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