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- A lifeguard who was injured in a fight on Manaba Beach in KwaZulu-Natal is recovering.
- Lifeguard manager Stephen Shomela told News24 that the rest of his team returned to work the next day.
- Lifesaving SA has condemned the violent attacks on first responders.
A lifeguard who was rushed to hospital after being caught in a fight on Manaba Beach on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday, is recovering at his home.
“It’s okay. It’s getting better,” lifeguard manager Stephen Shomela told News24. The lifeguard is still in pain and will return to the doctor, but is recovering.
SEE | Fight on the beach: 4 suspects charged with assault after hitting with lifeguards in KZN
They sewed him up on Wednesday and due to Covid-19 protocols at Shelly Beach Hospital, they sent him home. Shomela visited him at his home on Thursday.
Commenting on the fight, Shomela said that he was on his way back to Manaba Beach when someone called him to tell him about the skirmish.
“When I got there, the fight was still going on,” he said, adding that he witnessed the attack behind the lifeguard tower.
“They pushed one of my staff members. He fell to the pavement, hit his head, and passed out for a couple of minutes.”
Video footage of the incident shows the lifeguard lying motionless on the ground.
When he came to, he was taken to the lifeguard tower.
“The guys (raiders) followed us up to the tower,” Shomela said. “I tried to stop them. I told them, ‘Let’s wait, I’m going to call the police and the police will solve this,'” he said.
But they continued to fight with the lifeguards, before getting into their bakkie and leaving.
Between Uvongo and Manaba, local security agents helped locate those involved in the fight. Law enforcement officers arrived at the scene and took them to the police station.
Four people, ages 21 to 52, were arrested.
“They were charged with assault with intent to cause serious bodily injury and will appear today (Thursday) in Ramsgate Magistrates Court,” police spokesman Capt. Nqobile Gwala previously told News24.
Members of Shomela’s team said the altercation began after lifeguards asked the group not to go too far into the ocean.
Although bruised, the other lifeguards returned to work Thursday.
Doomed attack
Shomela said they were in discussions with the municipality and law enforcement officers about the possibility of having officers on the beach.
“If we had officers on the beach, something like this would not have happened.”
Dhaya Sewduth, President of Lifesaving SA, condemned the violent attacks against first responders and EMS personnel.
“They are there, mainly to prevent drowning, ensuring that bathers only swim in the bathing areas marked with the red and yellow flags. It is totally unacceptable for unruly and drunken crowds to attack lifeguards on duty to prevent those same individuals drowning, “he said.
“Additionally, we urge security officials to ensure that rebel elements are arrested and face the full power of the law if they interfere and prevent emergency workers, such as lifeguards, from doing their job.”
He continued to wish tourists and emergency workers a “safe and peaceful” holiday season.
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