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By ANA reporter 
15h ago
Two men avoided drowning in Rooi Els, Western Cape, on Friday morning, according to the National Maritime Rescue Institute (NSRI).
In a statement released Saturday, NSRI Kleinmond spokeswoman Tania Meiring said the local service team was activated at 7.18am on Friday following reports of an ongoing drowning in Rooi Els.
Two men, aged 27 and 19, had been dragged off the rocks while fishing for crabs and were being swept out to sea. Some friends had thrown a flotation tube at them on the shore and they were grabbing it, but they were unable to reach the rocks due to the strong sea conditions.
NSRI Kleinmond sent rescue swimmers to the scene. The NSRI Gordon’s Bay duty crew activated and launched their sea rescue craft. GB Med Sec ambulance services also responded.
Meanwhile, three local men, William Boltmann, 36, his brother Richard, 32, and his friend Francois Koekemoer, 46, were preparing to go crabbing in their rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) when a watchman NSRI shoreline informed them of the crisis.
The two brothers and their friend launched their boat, taking with them the pink NSRI rescue buoy from the slipway.
Upon arrival, they were unable to bring their boat closer to shore and tried to throw the rescue buoy, which was tied to a rope, at the two men, but the wind carried it away.
William jumped into the water armed with the pink rescue buoy. He got to the first wounded man and the ship’s crew hauled them up and onto the ship. William then swam the rescue buoy to the second victim, and they also put him in the boat and rescued him.
NSRI rescue swimmers had arrived on the scene at the time, but both victims were safe at the RHIB. They were taken to the stands and taken to the care of GB Med Sec paramedics, who treated them for non-fatal drowning symptoms and hypothermia.
“NSRI commends the swift action of William Boltmann, his brother Richard and his friend Francois Koekemoer, who together contributed to saving the lives of the two victims,” Meiring said.
MESS
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