Cape Town – A 48-year-old man, Reza Yon, from Mitchell’s Plain, lost his life heroically after attempting to save the lives of three teenagers whom he witnessed caught in a rip current at Mnandi Beach, False Bay on Sunday.
According to a statement by the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), Yon had launched into the water to go to their aid, armed with a body board. He reached the three teenagers in the water, providing them with the body board to use as flotation before he got into difficulty.
“Without doubt the flotation of the body board contributed to saving the three teenagers lives,” it said.
The NSRI Strandfontein duty crew was activated following reports of the drowning in progress. The NSRI Strandfontein sea rescue craft Rescue 16 Alpha was launched while NSRI rescue swimmers responded directly to the scene.
Upon arriving on the scene, the NSRI rescue craft rescued two of the teenagers who were located in the back breaker surf zone, using the body board for flotation. They were rescued onto the NSRI rescue craft. Both were hypothermic and in shock.
While bringing the two teenagers to the shore, they indicated that their friend had managed to reach the shore, while the adult male, Yon, had been in the water assisting them before they had lost sight of him.
The NSRI rescue craft crew spotted Yon in the mid break surf zone, and recovered him onto the sea rescue craft. He was found to be lifeless.
“They brought the casualties to the shore aboard the NSRI rescue craft where CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) efforts were commenced, by NSRI medics, on the adult male.
“Paramedics continued with CPR on the 48-year-old local man but sadly, after all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted, he was declared deceased,” the statement read.
Police and government health forensic pathology services took the body of the deceased man into their care.
The Police have since opened an inquest docket.
The NSRI conveyed their condolences to the family of Reza Yon.
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Picture: National Sea Rescue Institute
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Compiled by Junaid Benjamin
