Lifesaving South Africa is urging greater public awareness of water safety after a dramatic near-drowning rescue highlighted the importance of preparedness, education and rapid emergency response.
The call follows the rescue of University of Cape Town student Victor Lefoka, who lost consciousness while swimming at St James Tidal Pool earlier this month before being pulled from the water by fellow swimmer Greta Wilson and assisted by medically trained bystanders until emergency services arrived.
While Victor has since made a full recovery without permanent brain or lung damage, the incident has become a powerful reminder that drowning can happen suddenly and that survival often depends on immediate action from those nearby.
According to Lifesaving South Africa, drowning remains one of the leading causes of accidental death among children and young people in South Africa. Research referenced by the organisation indicates the country records an average of approximately 1 477 fatal drownings every year, with children between the ages of one and nine facing the greatest risk.
Although more drownings occur during the summer months because more people enter the water, winter presents its own dangers. Cold water, rough seas, stronger rip currents and rapidly changing weather conditions can make rescues more technically challenging and significantly increase the risk for swimmers.
Victor’s rescue demonstrated how community members can become the first link in the chain of survival.
Wilson noticed Victor disappear beneath the surface while swimming in the deep end of the tidal pool.
“I saw his arm go up and he said ‘Ma’am’ before disappearing under the water,” she recalled. “I immediately swam towards him and realised he was unconscious.”
After bringing Victor to shore, she was joined by a former lifeguard, an intensive care nursing sister, medical students and a retired cardiologist who worked together to stabilise him before paramedics arrived. Victor later regained consciousness while being transported to hospital.
Reflecting on the experience, Victor said surviving the incident had fundamentally changed his perspective on life.
“I should be asleep by now but I’m actually thinking deeply of the life I should be living from here on that when you look back would’ve been worth saving,” he said.
Beyond celebrating a remarkable rescue, Lifesaving South Africa says the incident highlights the need for stronger water safety awareness across the country.
The organisation continues to expand its WaterSmart programme, which teaches children how to recognise water hazards, understand rip currents and make safer decisions around swimming pools, rivers, dams and beaches. Originally delivered through classroom visits, the programme now includes a free online learning platform, enabling schools, teachers and families to access water safety education nationwide.
The programme has already reached more than one million learners through partnerships with schools, the Department of Basic Education and corporate partners, helping equip young South Africans with practical knowledge that could save lives.
Lifesaving South Africa is also encouraging the public to save emergency contact numbers, including those of the National Sea Rescue Institute and local emergency medical services, before visiting beaches, tidal pools, rivers or dams.
The organisation believes preventing drowning requires more than lifeguards alone. It calls for greater public education, improved emergency preparedness, wider access to lifesaving equipment and stronger community awareness to reduce one of South Africa’s most preventable causes of accidental death.
Victor’s survival serves as a powerful reminder that every second matters in a water emergency—and that education, preparedness and ordinary people willing to act can mean the difference between life and death.
