Teenager rescued after nearly drowning off East London beach

A close call had a happy ending for a teenager who got into trouble while swimming in the sea off Gun Rock, near Wimpy, at East London’s Esplanade, on Tuesday afternoon.

A lifeguard from the Orient swimming pools dived in to rescue the boy, who was thrashing about in the waves as the currents were dragging him out amid strong winds.

The youngster was reportedly swimming in a gully when he got into difficulty.

Eyewitness Mike Godfrey said: “The crowd screams directions to the swimming lifeguard, who reaches the drowning youth, hands him the buoy and gets him into a rescue clinch.

“The lifeguard did a fantastic job to save the guy, but he was having difficulties swimming back to the shore — that is where the second lifeguard came with a paddle board and loaded the two onto the ski.”

Godfrey said he called yachtsman John Barry, who then radioed Mark MacArthur who was reportedly fishing in the bay in a trawler.

“Luckily for them the trawler Sea Spirit went and rescued all three of them.

“They were all picked up and taken to the moorings up Buffalo River at the fish shop and restaurant next to the NSRI.

“They did not offload at the beach, but instead at the dry dock where they got medical attention,” Godfrey said.

A lifeguard, who asked not to be named, said they did not have sufficient equipment.

There was a need for more lifeguards to help the public, especially now that the festive season was approaching.

“There are only four lifeguards at Eastern Beach, I am not sure about other beaches.

“We are in need of jet skis, some of our rescue boards are broken and we do not have proper uniforms.”

He also said some guards needed to undergo first aid training.

“The boy who nearly drowned ... was lucky because he was rescued by well-experienced lifeguards.

“I have been a lifeguard for six years and I am still waiting for proper equipment and training,” he said.

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