KZN off-duty lifeguard saves teen after near-drowning
An off-duty lifeguard has pulled off a heroic rescue near Zinkwazi on the north coast.
Reports from the scene suggest an 18-year-old boy was swept out to sea in the early hours of this morning.
IPSS Medical Rescue received the call out for a reported drowning in progress near the ski boat club at about 4am.
Spokesperson Paul Herbst says their aquatic response team raced to the beach but local surfer and lifeguard Luke McCracken arrived at the scene before them.
Herbst says what unfolded in the water was truly heroic.
''He did an absolute heroic rescue, in the dark, swam out with a Malibu and managed to get the young 18-year old and swim out just behind backline, back into shore.
''Our advanced life support have had a look at him and the guy was actually in good shape, very lucky that Luke was around. Any rescue being done in the dark by yourself in water conditions is never an easy thing,'' he said.
Herbst says the teenager had been in the water for about 30-minutes before being rescued.
''Unfortunately the friends that were with him never had any cellphones with them but a local security guard managed to alert us when the entire process went down,'' he added.
(Photo: IPSS Medical Rescue)