Kleinmond birthday party nearly ends in tragedy

A 13-year-old’s birthday party at Kleinmond main beach turned dangerous when partygoers and two parents were caught in rip currents. 

Thanks to the quick action of NSRI rescue swimmers and two Good Samaritans, they were saved in a mass rescue on Sunday. 

NSRI Kleinmond station commander Schalk Boonzaaier said NSRI Kleinmond duty crew were alerted to reports of a mass drowning in progress at Kleinmond Main Beach at around 3pm on Sunday. 

NSRI Kleinmond rescue swimmers, police, Western Cape Government Health EMS, Overstrand Law Enforcement and Overstrand Fire and Rescue Services, responded while an NSRI rescue craft was launched.

Boonzaaier said: “On arrival on the scene it was determined that seven teenagers, and two adults (a mom and dad of some of the children) were caught in rip currents and in distress in the surf zone.

“It appears that the teenagers, all aged 13, were attending a 13th birthday celebration, when they were caught in rip currents while swimming. A mom and dad had entered the water to assist when they were caught in sea currents.” 

The casualties were widely separated from each other attempting to stay afloat and caught in sea currents in and beyond the surf zone.

Boonzaaier added: “NSRI rescue swimmers and two male bystander Good Samaritans, using five NSRI pink rescue buoys stationed at Kleinmond Main Beach, and assisted by the NSRI Kleinmond rescue craft were rescuing casualties towards the shoreline, rescued all nine people from the surf zone, bringing all nine casualties to the beach.”