Daring Rescue of Teenager in Dangerous Conditions off Camps Bay
A Gauteng teenager was rescued at Camps Bay in South Africa yesterday evening by an incredibly brave and selfless NSRI (National Sea Rescue Institute) crew, after he became entangled in his kite and was swept out to sea in extremely rough and dangerous conditions. Eighteen-year-old Shane Keenan, from Fourways in Johannesburg, had been flying a large kite […]
A Gauteng teenager was rescued at Camps Bay in South Africa yesterday evening by an incredibly brave and selfless NSRI (National Sea Rescue Institute) crew, after he became entangled in his kite and was swept out to sea in extremely rough and dangerous conditions.
Eighteen-year-old Shane Keenan, from Fourways in Johannesburg, had been flying a large kite on the beach when it got caught in the wind.
He followed the kite into the sea…but got into difficulty and was swept about 200 metres off-shore before being swept in towards rocks at Maidens Cove.
The conditions were wild with surf over 3-metres high and a gale-force wind, and although lifeguards managed to reach the teenager they were forced to abort the rescue attempt and swim back to shore without him.
Their inability to rescue him caused some consternation, but as many have pointed out, the circumstances were such that had they remained, there would have been three casualties. According to Bruce Davidson, Statcom Stn 2, “it was not through lack of will that the lifeguards could not do more. They were simply under resourced to deal with the circumstances and conditions. Shane’s kite had trapped him. It required a well equipped rescue boat and highly trained crew to rescue Shane.”
Enter the NSRI.
A call was put out and at 17h36, NSRI Bakoven responded aboard the Sea Rescue craft ROTARIAN SCHIPPER, with NSRI deputy station commander Johnny Alberts at the helm.
On arrival at the scene scene NSRI Bakoven sea rescue craft searched for the casualty and were guided to his position by the rescue services on the beach, but in heavy 3.5 metre breaking surf and with a 50 knot South Easterly gale force wind, the rescue craft could not get anywhere close to Shane who was close to rocks at Maidens Cove.
Helmer Johnny Alberts said that the sea conditions were horrendous, and he realised that in the breaking surf the rescue craft would be in grave danger if attempts were made to try to reach the teenager.
He also knew that putting a rescue swimmer into the water would put the rescue swimmer’s life at risk, so he signalled to the teenager to swim further out (towards the rescue craft) but the teenager was “wide-eyed and appearing fearful”.
NSRI rescuers couldn’t understand why he wasn’t responding to their request to swim towards the rescue craft. At this stage they did not realise that Shane was trapped by the ropes of his kite.
Finally Johnny timed the sets and managed to do a sweeping pass of the teenager, who was now almost in between the rocks and at risk of being battered into them by the heaving breaking swells. Again Johnny shouted to Shane to swim free of the rocks towards the boat but the teenager simply said “I can’t swim”.
The rescue craft was forced to abort the rescue to avoid being battered into rocks by the incoming wave sets and headed back out to sea to avoid the incoming swell sets.
Johnny said that at this stage they were at a loss as to what to do to save the teenager from certain peril.
Still not understanding the plight of the teenager and not knowing what he meant when he said he couldn’t swim, Johnny indicated to his crew that they had no choice but to make a dash for it and that he would attempt to get the craft closer to the teenager.
A brief lull in wave sets allowed Johnny to take the craft up to the teenager and with the bow facing out to sea the crew tried to pull the teenager aboard the craft but were surprised to find that he would not budge and it appeared that he was anchored to the sea bed.
In a back wash of water the NSRI crew were shocked to discover that the teenager’s legs were trapped and entangled in the kite’s rope cords…and that the kite itself was filled with water and Shane was thus anchored to the sea bed, trapped amongst the rocks, by his large kite.
With up to 3.5 metre swell sets bearing down and heading straight onto the craft Johnny shouted to his rescue crew to hang onto the teenager (who was half on board – precariously perched on the pontoon of the boat and entangled in his kite rope cords). The crew hung onto Shane while Johnny steadily gunned the boat into the huge waves that were breaking over the sea rescue craft.
The crew feared injuring the teenager as they hung onto him, with the kite and rope cords pulling him in the opposite direction but as the Sea Rescue craft steadily reached deeper water the kite load that was entangled onto the teenager’s legs appeared to get lighter and manoeuvring the craft through the breaking surf got easier.
The rescue craft eventually made it to the back line where the NSRI rescue crew were able to pull the teenager into the boat and pull the kite and all of the kite rope cords into the boat too.
While heading back towards their base at Bakoven, the crew started to cut rope free from Shane’s legs while medical treatment for severe hypothermia, near drowning symptoms, exhaustion and shock commenced.
Paramedics raced to Bakoven and when the boat arrived medical treatment continued by paramedics while further rope was cut free from the teenager’s legs.
Shane was transported to hospital by ER24 ambulance where he was reported to be in a serious but stable condition, and is expected to make a full recovery.
His best friend Neville who was flying the kite with him at the time reports that he has had x-rays and “is doing fine”.
Bruce Davidson added that Shane’s “strength of character allowed him to survive pounding surf and icy water for nearly an hour”.
The NSRI has commended the Bakoven NSRI crew aboard ROTARIAN SCHIPPER for their actions yesterday.
Diane Schmidt, mother of one of Shane’s friends said “I would like to thank the entire NSRI team for their bravery and selflessness in order to save Shane’s life. As someone who donates every month to this amazing cause, I take my hat off to you all who give of your time so freely. Thank you again for saving Shane’s life!!!”
The rescue was an awesome joint operation of several services including the Community Medics, ER24 ambulance services, WC Government Health EMS, Life Health Care paramedic response, Camps Bay Watch, Law Enforcement, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, Municipal lifeguards and the SA Police Services who all responded to the call.
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