Heroic act saves beachgoers from serious injury at sardine netting

THE son of a well-known seine netter tisked his life to protect beachgoers from a snapping rope during sardine netting at a Winkelspruit beach, resulting in a serious injury that requires surgery.

- YOSHINI PERUMAL

Kioshan Govender, 30, son of Amanzimtoti Beach superintendent and third-generation seine netter Jace Govender, will undergo surgery to his leg today (Wednesday) after the rope snapped and cut through his ankle and lower leg.

In an interview with the POST, Kioshan said the sea conditions were rough on Monday and the public did not adhere to safety instructions from the crew.

“We were pulling out the second net for the morning. The public made their way to the beach and were standing very close to the ropes.

“The right wing of the net started to wash quickly into the current causing the rope to get pulled into the water very fast. It moved across the beach near the adults and children who were trying to pick up sardines that had fallen out of the net.

“The crew warned them that the ropes would injure them but nobody listened. I knew I had to secure the rope to the van to avoid people being injured and while doing that, the rope snapped and wrapped around my ankle.