I think it is worthy of an honourable mention... The inflatable was a child's toy meant for use in a swimming pool by little ones... Sea temperatures in False Bay average around 15 degrees Celsius

Article by Karen Breytenbach karen.breytenbach@inl.co.za

With a broomstick tied to a dustpan for an oar and a neon-orange inflatable dinghy for a boat, two American women gave new meaning to the term "swept out to sea" when they were carried into choppy waters off Muizenberg on Wednesday, nearly freezing before they were rescued.

Lindsay Henley, 29, and Ali Jacobs, 25, both from Chicago and now living in Muizenberg, took their little inflatable boat, bought at a supermarket, to the beach and floated in the shallows between Sunrise Circle and the Muizenberg Pavilion, before apparently becoming caught in a current.

Muizenberg resident Craig Dodds, the Cape Times' deputy chief subeditor, saw the women walking to the beach.

"They looked like something from a comedy film shoot, wearing bright blue clothes and carrying a luminous raft," he said.

"They looked like they were planning to take some pictures - they certainly didn't look like they were planning to go out to the deep sea. I didn't actually think they'd go into the water. I can't believe they had to be rescued."

National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesperson Craig Lambinon said strong winds and a rip current might have swept them out to sea.

"Their friend Lesley Savage, from Ohio, tried to go after them on a surfboard, but turned back when they were pulled in too far. She contacted the NSRI."

The NSRI in Strandfontein and Simon's Town launched rescue crafts, while Emergency Medical Training paramedics, Cape Medical Response, Netcare 911, Metro paramedics and the Metro rescue helicopter also responded to the call.

The search took more than an hour. The rescue boat from Simon's Town was told to keep a "sharp lookout" as no one could see them, Lambinon said. The rescue crew eventually spotted the pair about two miles (about 3,2km) out to sea.

"Luckily they wore bright blue clothing and had a bright orange raft," Lambinon said.

The Spirit of Safmarine picked them up. By that time they had blue lips and were too hypothermic to walk. They were taken to the Kalk Bay harbour and then to the False Bay hospital.

"They didn't look good. They're really lucky to be alive. I hope they're doing okay now," said Kalk Bay harbour master Pat Stacey. With the sea very choppy, visibility was only about 10 to 15 metres, he said.

Colette Botha, the Cape Medical Response paramedic who helped take the severely hypothermic pair to hospital, said they were wrapped in blankets and given warm intravenous therapy. They were later given warm drinks, and discharged after a few hours of observation.

"They're fine now, they were a bit rattled and embarrassed, but they're fine."

Submitted on 07/16/2008

Submitted by: Lee Jones
Reference: Cape Times on November 08, 2007

Copyright © 2008 DarwinAwards.com

Bruce said:
Definitely Toss: No Self-Selection
Rip currents can be virtually invisible when near them, and especially if you're not trained in how to identify them. If these women were victims of a rip current, as the article suggests, then they really can't be held responsible for what happened. Thanks just the same, Lee.

Candi said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
Going into any stretch of ocean however close to the beach with only a _child's inflatable_ as support is stupid. The local resident quoted in the article obviously didn't think they'd get in the water with it at all. As he said, he "thought they were going to take pictures." And even without a riptide, it's far too easy to get too far from shore before realizing it. (Nearly lost a cousin that way; not that he'd have been a genetic loss. No, I didn't like him.) Caution should be an automatic watchword when dealing with the sea. Thanks, Lee!

Tracy said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
It's very easy to get into trouble in the sea - and I like the bit where they used "a broomstick tied to a dustpan for an oar" - it makes me wonder just exactly what they were planning

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