Donate Shop Find a Base Call for Help Now

NSRI EMERGENCY
OPERATION CENTRE (EOC)

087 094 9774

Mark McLagan, NSRI Hermanus duty coxswain, said: At 10h57, Saturday, 11 October, NSRI Hermanus duty crew were activated following eyewitness reports of 2 males, with one body board, appearing to be in distress offshore of Onrus Main Beach, beyond the back breakers, appearing to be caught in sea currents.

NSRI Hermanus rescue swimmers responded while an NSRI Hermanus rescue craft was prepared to be launched.

While responding to the scene eyewitnesses indicated that a Good Samaritan surfer appeared to be assisting the 2 male casualties with his surfboard and they appeared to both being gradually guided through the surf zone towards rocks along the shoreline.

The 2 males, both age 18, were coming ashore in amongst rocks, assisted by a Good Samaritan male surfer.

(NSRI has not determined where the two teenagers are from)

Once safely ashore the 2 teenagers, despite minor scrapes and bruises, that were sustained coming ashore in amongst the rocks, they required no medical care.

Bystanders, including a Psychologist that was there at the time, confirmed that they were not injured.

NSRI has commended local surfer Mark Jardine, age 54, who assisted the 2 teenagers to get safely to shore, assisted by the floatation of his surfboard and by the body board that the 2 teenagers had with them.

It appears that they had been caught in rip currents while swimming and body boarding at Onrus Main Beach, during the Spring Tide, and they were both swept out to sea beyond the back breakers before the Good Samaritan surfer intervened by assisting them to get to shore safely.

NSRI commend the eyewitnesses who raised the alarm and the bystanders who assisted the 2 teenagers at the scene once they came safely ashore.  

Next Article

Good Samaritans Commended for Saving Two Women at Shark Bay, Langebaan

Read More

You may also like

55285520872 b23dc6e537 k
 | Published: 22 May 2026

Premier Alan Winde thanks NSRI volunteers for flood rescue efforts

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde today visited the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Volunteer Support Centre (VSC) in Cape Town to thank volunteer crews and staff from across the province who were activated during the recent floods. ...

Jean Garrett 42
AWARDS  | Published: 22 May 2026

Photo of the Month: May 2026

Send us your favourite photograph of NSRI people doing what we do, and you could win an NSRI shop voucher worth R250! ...

Victor Daitz Foundation8
EDUCATION  | Published: 22 May 2026

New Partnership Expands Water Safety Education in Richards Bay

The NSRI has secured a significant three-year partnership with the Victor Daitz Foundation and World Relief Australia to fund a dedicated Drowning Prevention Instructor in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal. ...