- Kei Mouth, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Spending your Christmas holiday sitting on a beach and getting paid for it sounds infinitely appealing. In the eyes of many, that’s precisely what NSRI lifeguards across the country are doing. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The reality of being an NSRI lifeguard is very different from the romantic image you may have conjured up.
Lifeguarding season started early for lifeguards across South Africa and Kei Mouth was no different. On 8th December, NSRI representatives were called to the Kei River where a 22-year-old man was fighting for his life. Despite their heroic attempts, they couldn’t save him and the next day our local lifeguards were engaged with the unpleasant task of body retrieval.
This is the grim reality of lifeguarding.
Of course, the responsibility for safety in the ocean shouldn’t fall solely on the shoulders of our local lifeguards — every person who enters the sea needs to be aware of the potential dangers and act accordingly.
Furthermore, beach safety doesn’t just fall under the jurisdiction of the NSRI but is the responsibility of every coastal community. In Kei Mouth and Morgan Bay, we’re fortunate that the local ratepayers’ associations and other non-profit organisations support the lifeguards both emotionally and financially.
Chatting to Dr Deborah Robertson-Andersson who heads up the local NSRI team, I discovered that she and her partner Monica have been blown away by the support they’ve received from the local community this season.
In addition to the emotional support provided to our lifeguards, the local community has also invested financially, erecting warning signs at every beach entrance, warning of the dangerous rip tides that so often claim lives.
They’ve also provided lifeguards with the personal protective equipment (PPE) necessary for them to perform their duties safely and effectively. Going the extra mile, they’ve funded much of the medical equipment the lifeguards depend upon for saving lives.
A recent incident at Morgan Bay Lagoon demonstrated the vital importance of both this equipment and the training needed to use it.
When a 12-year-old girl was pulled from the water, the NSRI team’s expertise and well-maintained equipment proved crucial in her successful resuscitation. The severity of her condition required subsequent treatment in both the trauma unit and ICU, but she survived thanks to the team’s preparedness and quick response.
These incidents place extraordinary pressure on our lifeguards who, due to their contract terms, must return to the beach even after experiencing traumatic events.
Not only that, but the lifeguards patrolling our local beaches receive the salary of an unskilled worker, despite being highly trained and giving up their Christmas holidays to keep the public safe.
From what I’ve witnessed, they receive little thanks for their efforts, with members of the public ignoring their warnings or even becoming confrontational when asked to move to safer swimming areas.
While I’m chatting with one of the lifeguards, I’m shocked by how many unaccompanied children there are on the beach with no parents or guardians in sight. One day, I counted over 100 children while, on another day, I bumped into a five-year-old who said her mom had dropped her off there, telling her to simply, ‘Stay between the flags until I get back.’
I’m sure you’ll agree that lifeguards should not be treated like babysitters. They are highly trained, skilled individuals who need to focus on saving lives. They can’t be expected to give individual attention to dozens of unsupervised children while monitoring the water at the same time. Despite what some seem to believe, the NSRI flags don’t create some kind of magical safety zone and children need active supervision, especially around water.
With the festive season far from over, the challenges for our lifeguards continue. Not only do they have to deal with rip currents, dangerous conditions, and the possibility of sharks in the water, but they have also had to contend with beaches being closed due to sewage contamination.
While the authority to close beaches lies with the local government, not the NSRI, the organisation faces a complex situation: they are neither authorised to enforce these closures nor expected to patrol closed beaches — responsibilities that fall under police jurisdiction.
Still, there’s always a chance that some holidaymakers will ignore the municipality’s advice and visit the beach anyway, creating a potentially dangerous situation in which there are inexperienced swimmers in the sea and no lifeguards on duty to assist if an emergency occurs.
Fortunately, the situation is being resolved quickly thanks to dedicated members of the community and the Amatole District Municipality. I’m sure that, by the time this blog is published, the beaches will be open and people will be back enjoying the waves.
On a more positive note, you’d be hard-pressed to find another Eastern Cape village as prepared or as well-equipped as either Kei Mouth or Morgan Bay.
Thanks to the efforts of our local NSRI representatives, lifeguards, and other community members, these villages now have ample signage, daily beach reports, fully equipped and trained lifeguards, all the necessary PPE and medical equipment, and a communication system that includes the local security group, the Kei Watch Action Group (KWAG), and the local ski boat club, who support the NSRI’s efforts further from shore.
Despite that, it’s still crucial that every beachgoer plays their part in maintaining safety. While the NSRI team works tirelessly to protect lives, supported by the local community and other authorities, there are several essential steps that holidaymakers and locals can and should take to protect themselves and their loved ones when visiting our beaches.
The NSRI released some safety tips before the start of the season, which included the following:
The risks of drinking and entering the sea are comparable with those of drinking and driving. Alcohol not only impairs your judgment, but it also disrupts your balance and coordination. Drinking when supervising children at the beach is particularly dangerous, as it diminishes your ability to spot potential danger signs and respond quickly to an emergency.
Even strong swimmers can get into difficulties in a sea as rough as the one we experience along the Wild Coast. Swimming in big waves and strong currents is a very different experience from swimming in a pool or lagoon. Take this into consideration when entering the water and never go out of your depth. Ideally, stay around waist-deep so you can recover your footing quickly should a big wave knock you over.
As the NSRI emphasises, “Drowning is silent.” If your child is beyond arm’s reach, they may already be at risk. If you’ve got a beachfront property, you might be tempted to let your children visit the beach unaccompanied, assuming you can watch them and keep them safe from 100m away. This simply isn’t the case. If your child gets into difficulties, at that distance, you’re too far away to save them. Close supervision and staying in close proximity are essential to ensure your children’s safety in the water.
The emergency NSRI number is prominently displayed on beach signage, but adding it to your contacts ensures you can access it instantly in a critical situation when every second matters. Take a moment to save this number now: 087 094 9774. Additionally, you can call the KWAG emergency number at 066 177 3451.
Swimming in areas identified as having dangerous swimming conditions not only puts your life at risk but also adds an unnecessary burden to our already busy lifeguards, distracting them from their primary role of monitoring the beach and responding to genuine emergencies. Please make everyone’s lives easier and safer by swimming between the flags!
Lifeguards are there to keep you safe, so if they ask you to move or adjust your behaviour, it’s important to show respect and follow their instructions. While they may occasionally sound exasperated or even frustrated, it’s only because they understand the potential consequences of unsafe actions. Bear in mind that lifeguards have the right to decline a rescue if the conditions are too dangerous or pose a serious threat to their own lives. Don’t put them in a position where they have to make that decision.
Our lifeguards carry a heavy weight on their shoulders, but in Kei Mouth and Morgan Bay, they’re not alone. Thanks to the support of the local community, our lifeguards are better equipped to handle the immense responsibilities they face daily.
The reality of lifeguarding is far from the idyllic image many imagine. From responding to tragic incidents and saving lives in critical situations to enforcing safety rules and dealing with uncooperative beachgoers, lifeguards face extraordinary pressure. Yet they persevere, driven by their commitment to protecting lives, even in the face of criticism and minimal financial reward.
Let’s take a moment to thank Deborah, Monica, and the rest of the lifeguard team for their tireless dedication and hard work. Their efforts, combined with the incredible support of our community, make Kei Mouth and Morgan Bay some of the safest and best-prepared coastal villages in the Eastern Cape.
This festive season, let’s not only enjoy our beautiful beaches but also do our part to support the lifeguards who work tirelessly to keep them safe. Together, we can ensure that everyone has a safer and more enjoyable holiday by the sea.