‘I had to jump in, they were in trouble’: Heroic passerby rescues two kayakers from drowning after they were sucked underneath a jagged grate
- Kayakers Kristie and Sheryl were caught up in a current at West Lakes, Adelaide
- The pair were pulled against a grate and sucked under the tumultuous water
- Passerby Louis van der Merwe jumped into water and swam to the drowning pair
- His four-year-old pet jumped in as well but was pulled under the strong current
- The hero of the day managed to save both kayakers and his brave pet dog
- Both women have called for better signage along the lake to avoid a repeat
Two kayakers narrowly escaped drowning to death after a heroic passerby jumped into the lake and pulled them out of the water.
Kristie and her partner Sheryl were kayaking at West Lakes in Adelaide at around 3pm on Tuesday when their day took a turn for the worst, 7 News reported.
An unexpected and strong current suddenly pulled the two women and their kayaks against a grate and sucked the troubled pair under the water.
Kristie and her partner Sheryl were kayaking at West Lakes in Adelaide at around 3pm on Tuesday when their day took a turn for the worst
Louis van der Merwe answered the call for help and jumped into the water and swam out to the drowning kayakers
Sheryl’s 14-year-old son was sitting on the bank of the river when his mother and her friend became trapped.
The quick thinking teenager ran for help.
Louis van der Merwe answered the call for help and jumped into the water and swam out to the drowning kayakers.
‘I saw them clinging on and the current’s just taking them under the grate, so I had to jump in and help,’ Mr Merwe said.
‘They were in trouble.’
Mr Merwe had been walking his four-year-old kelpie at the time and his dog even tried to help in the rescue mission and jumped in the lake.
The current was too strong for the brave animal and it was pulled under the water.
Mr Merwe managed to save his pet and both of the troubled kayakers, and walked out of the river with scratches to his legs and arm.
‘Before I got there [to the lake] one of them [the women] was under water and her head was caught up [in the grate],’ Mr Merwe said.
Both women have called for better signage along the water, with the pair saying they had no idea just how precarious and dangerous the current could become along the lake.
Both women have called for better signage along the water, with the pair saying they had no idea just how precarious and dangerous the current could become along the lake