Cape Town - Dramatic scenes unfolded at Bloubergstrand Beach when a Heideveld father bravely rescued two bathers in distress amid treacherous waves at the weekend.
Brandon Janeke, 28, said he didn’t hesitate to jump in and save the man and a woman on Saturday.
He said the man tried to help the woman using a floatie, but was also struggling because the waves were rough.
“He couldn’t move, he was tired of the waves hitting him,” said Janeke.
“He was floating and shouting for help, I went closer, and I pulled him a bit closer to me. I then went underwater to take his hand and pulled him closer, the other guys then pulled him further out. It was just hectic, I almost died as well because the waves were hitting us.”
Mindful of his limited swimming experience, Janeke said the conditions at Bloubergstrand were “anything but calm”.
“When I came to the beach I thought to myself that the waves were hectic, how it pulled back with a lot of force. There was also a ditch that the sand was making,” Janeke said.
After the incident, he said he doesn’t plan on visiting Bloubergstrand Beach any time soon.
“If it was me, I would have someone to do whatever it takes to get out of the water, no one wants to die like that. I can’t see another human being die, I was thinking about my child but I was also thinking what if it was me,” he said.
Community medics confirmed the incident, saying the individuals involved are in stable condition.
Janeke pointed out that there were no lifeguards visible at the beach.
“That people should at least get a lifeguard on that beach if anyone is going to attempt to swim there,” he said.
Ward councillor, Jonathan Mills, said lifeguard presence is mainly during peak season, and the City is in the process of recruiting seasonal lifeguards.
“The City will continue with its deployment plans. The sea is a very powerful force, thanks a lot to the community’s quick action and organisation who responded,” he said.
Eyewitness to the rescue, Janine Roode Becker, took to Facebook to give a shout-out to Janeke, saying he deserves recognition and an award for his bravery.
“Your mother can be proud that she raised a son who didn’t think twice to rescue the two. Cape Town needs more people like you,” she wrote.
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis also commended the bravery of Janeka.
“The City commends Brandon for his bravery in selflessly swimming into rough seas to rescue a woman from drowning. The community of Heideveld and all Capetonians can be extremely proud of this young man who risked his own life to save another, alongside several other heroes who are yet to be identified.
“It is incredible that these ordinary beachgoers staged this heroic rescue without thinking twice, and saved a life in the process,” said Mayor Hill-Lewis.
The incident occurred along a stretch of Table View coastline which experiences regular rip currents and is outside of the designated swimming areas at Big Bay and Milnerton where lifeguards are based. No fatalities were reported on the day along the Table Bay coastline.
As the festive season approaches, the City has deployed lifeguards to 29 different beaches, tidal pools and stretches of coast between the hours of 10:00 and 18:00.
To date, 241 seasonal lifeguards have been recruited and deployed to manage the influx to beaches.
Mayco Member for Community Services and Health, Patricia van der Ross called on the public to only swim at designated areas where dedicated and professional lifeguards are.
“Please adhere to the rules, and support them, so that we can ensure a safe and memorable beach experience for everyone.”
byron.lukas@inl.co.za
Cape Argus