How An Act of Care Inspired Commitment to Drowning Prevention in McGregor

When John Oldham heard about a tragic drowning at the small dam on the outskirts of McGregor village in December 2025, he was deeply moved to take action.

The incident – in which a ten-year-old girl drowned while playing near the water – affected the close-knit community profoundly. For John, whose family has volunteered with the NSRI for over forty years, it was a call to do something meaningful.

John reached out to his son, Spencer Oldham, Station Commander at Station 8, Hout Bay, to ask if a Pink Rescue Buoy (PRB) could be placed at the dam.

The brightly coloured buoys, developed by NSRI as part of its national drowning prevention campaign, are simple yet powerful tools.  They are immediately visible, easy to use, and designed to help both rescuers and victims float until trained help arrives.

Within weeks, Spencer arranged for a buoy to be sent from NSRI headquarters. Upon receiving it, John installed the buoy above the high-water line and gave it a fitting name: “Pinky”.

He then shared a warm message with the village, introducing the newest “resident” at the dam:

“Hi, I’m the new buoy in town, and my name is Pinky. I live at the dam in case you need me. Please look after me, don’t take me for walks or home with you. If you see me anywhere else, please return me.”

A Moment of Courage

A month after the buoy was installed, John’s initiative proved its worth. During an evening walk, community members witnessed a person slip into the dam while trying to rescue their dog. A young man named Joah Joseph saw what was happening, quickly grabbed the PRB, and threw it toward the person in the water. That buoy gave them the chance they needed to stay afloat until help arrived.

Thanks to Joah’s quick thinking and the responses from community volunteers, both the dog and its owner were safely rescued. The message afterwards was clear: water hazards can catch anyone off guard, and having rescue equipment readily available can make all the difference.

Residents shared heartfelt gratitude in local community messages that evening: “A huge thank you to the person who donated the life buoy, and a massive shout-out to Joah Joseph, whose brave actions helped save a life.”

Continuing the Conversation

For John, seeing the buoy used in a real rescue reinforced his belief in proactive water safety education.

Since then, John and Eoudia Erasmus from the NSRI’s Drowning Prevention team have visited McGregor Primary School to speak with 600 pupils about water safety and safe rescue techniques. Plans are also underway for additional community talks and basic life support training courses throughout 2026.

A Legacy of Service

The Oldham family represents three generations of NSRI volunteers, each committed to saving lives and spreading safety awareness. Their efforts remind us that the small acts of care and preparedness we make today can ripple outward, protecting lives tomorrow.

The Pink Rescue Buoy initiative has now been credited with saving more than 250 lives across South Africa since its launch in 2017. In McGregor, one family’s compassion brought that lifesaving capability to their community, and it worked exactly as intended.

As John reflects on that day at the dam, his message is heartfelt and simple:

“We can’t control every tragedy, but we can prepare. If one buoy helps prevent another loss, then it’s all worth it.”

Learn more and sponsor a Pink Buoy.