A fisherman from the Wilderness has emerged as the hero in the rescue of an American man who was swept out to sea while surfing at Leeuntjiesklip in Wilderness.
Twenty-seven-year-old John Appels was fishing off the rocks yesterday when he noticed that a surfer had become seperated from his board and swept out to sea in swells of around two to three metres.
It was thanks to the quick thinking of Appels, who told Algoa FM News that he could not stand by while the man was being dragged out to sea.
He stripped down to his underwear and ran into the water.
George Traffic Services, George Fire and Rescue Services, WC Government Health EMS and ER24 ambulance services were activated and they also responded.
On arrival on the scene we found a 35 year old American man already on the beach and semi conscious.
Medical treatment was initiated by NSRI medics and on their arrival on the scene paramedics took over medical care of the 35 year old man, from Pennsylvania, United States of America, who was suffering from near drowning symptoms.
The man has been transported to hospital by ER24 ambulance in a stable condition and he is expected to fully recover.
