German Couple Rescued in Plettenberg Bay After Being Swept Out to Sea

A German couple were successfully rescued on Friday after they got into trouble on the Wild Side of Robberg Nature Reserve in the Western Cape, South Africa. The husband and wife from Germany – both 63 – were incredibly grateful to the team who saved them.

The NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew were activated just after 11am on Friday morning, following reports of a drowning in progress in the area. Eye witnesses had seen two people being swept out to sea.

Jaco Kruger, NSRI Plettenberg Bay station commander, said three sea rescue crafts were launched while NSRI rescue swimmers, in their own private vehicles, went straight to the Robberg Nature Reserve parking area and ran along the hiking trail to reach the scene.

“An NSRI rescue swimmer reached The Island and confirmed that it was a couple being swept out to sea.

“They had already been swept about 100 meters across the beach and they were, by that stage, behind the backline and still in grave danger of being caught in rip currents.”

Fortunately, the rescue swimmer grabbed the NSRI pink rescue buoy (which is on a pole at that beach) and launched into the surf to reach the couple.

As soon as the first rescue craft arrived on the scene, it was able to haul the couple out of the water and onto the craft. (The rescue swimmer swam back.)

NSRI medics assessed the woman and her husband with the assistance of a doctor who happened to be on the beach.

“Both casualties were in satisfactory conditions and grateful for being rescued. They were accompanied back to the car park and they required no further assistance,” said Kruger.

The eye-witnesses who raised the alarm, and the swift response, have been commended for helping save the couple’s lives!

Source: NSRI. Please donate to the NSRI here.