Heroic fisherman rescues drowning child at deserted Baggies Beach

FISHERMAN Cameron Alexander has been hailed as a hero after saving a child from drowning at Baggies Beach near Kingsburgh on Wednesday afternoon

- KAREN SINGH

The incident highlights the urgent need for water safety awareness.

Lifesaving South Africa (LSA) voluntary president Dhaya Sewduth said that at approximately 2pm, Alexander, who recently moved to the South Coast from Pretoria, was fishing at an unpatrolled beach when he noticed a body floating in the water.

“Cameron swam out in strong sea swell conditions, rescued the child from the water and brought him to shore,” he said.

Sewduth said that as a trained first aider and responder, Alexander's instincts kicked in, and he began performing the necessary resuscitation on the child until the ambulance arrived.

“The child was handed over to the paramedics and taken to the hospital,” he said.

It was very fortunate that Alexander was at the beach at that time and that he is a strong swimmer, trained in first aid, said Sewduth.

“Had he not been there, not been able to make the 50-metre swim or so in the strong sea surge, the young boy could have been a fatal statistic,” said Sewduth.