Three children rescued after being caught in a rip current

As warmer weather draws more people to the coast during the school holidays, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is urging beachgoers to stay alert around the water.

The warning follows a rescue at Monwabisi Beach in Cape Town on Monday, 21 September, when NSRI crews spotted three children caught in rip currents while returning to shore from an earlier call.

Three children rescued from rip currents

The NSRI Strandfontein duty crew responded at 16:34 after receiving reports of a possible drowning at Monwabisi Beach.

Rescue swimmers went to the scene while the NSRI launched its rescue craft Rotarian Wares from its auxiliary satellite station at Monwabisi.

Crews initially found no one in distress. Bystanders later told them that unidentified Good Samaritans had helped a woman out of the water after a rip current caught her.

The team cancelled the call and began returning to base.

As the NSRI rescue craft headed back to shore, the crew spotted three children swimming nearby. The rip currents appeared to sweep the children off their feet and out to sea.

The crew diverted to the children and rescued all three.

The rescue team brought the two boys, aged 10 and 11, and a 13-year-old girl safely to shore. They were uninjured and reunited with their parents.

Stay alert as more people head to the water

The NSRI says the incident highlights the importance of water safety as more people visit beaches, swimming pools, rivers and dams during the school holidays.

Beachgoers should swim where lifeguards are on duty and stay between the flags. Swimmers caught in a rip current should swim parallel to the beach to escape the current rather than trying to swim directly against it.

Parents and caregivers should also keep children close and supervise them around water.

The NSRI advises people to avoid alcohol before or during swimming and boating, wear properly fitted lifejackets when boating or fishing from rocks, and save emergency numbers before heading out.

The NSRI Emergency Operations Centre can be reached on 087 094 9774, while 112 can be used for emergencies.