The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) has commended good samaritans who came to the rescue of people in trouble in Port Alfred and Wilderness recently.
The latest incident was reported on Friday from the Wilderness where two men from Pretoria rushed to assist two young boys and their father who had been swept out to sea in a rip current.
Spokesperson, Craig Lambinon, says 34-year-old Divan Prinsloo from Pretoria took his son's boogie board to assist the three South Africans who now live in New Zealand.
He says he got them to hang on to the board, but they were struggling to return to shore when another a Pretoria visitor took the pink rescue buoy to reach stricken swimmers and assist in bringing them to shore.
A third person who also jumped in to assist ran into trouble and had to be rescued by the NSRI.
Meanwhile, the NSRI has also commended Gqeberha businessman, Ed Gutsche, and 64-year-old Briton, Nick Laws, who also rushed to the assistance of four people who were pulled out to sea at Kelly's Beach in Port Alfred.
He said the incident happened at the beginning of the month, when Gutsche, who had been body-boarding was approached by a woman and her daughter to help some children who had been swept out to sea.
Lambinon said Gutsche paddled out and was able to reach a 16-year-old girl before swimming out to help a 12-year-old boy whom he helped to reach the boogie board which was used as a flotation device.
In a dramatic moment, Lambinon says Gutsche then swam out to a third child who had disappeared underwater as he reached her. He says the businessman then had to dive underwater to reach and bring her to safety.
However, the drama was not yet over as he had to swim beyond the breakers to reach their father and was able to bring them all back to safety, using the body-board to tow them to shore.
He says this good samaritan managed to rescue three children and their father in what can only be described as a phenomenal effort.
