Rescue Report Sunday 23rd November 2025
Official Rescue Report: Clifton 4th Beach
Date: 23rd November 2025
Time of Incident: 09:17
Location: Between Clifton 4th Beach
Responding Lifeguards: Leon Walther-Kotze, Isabella Greenfield, Dr Jonathan Wicht, Pia Weakly, Hannah McClelland, Darryl Lindt, Daniel Lubbe. Paramedic support was provided by Netcare 911, ER24 and Taurus.
Conditions: Windy, approximately 40 km/h with gusts exceeding 70 km/h from a south-south-easterly direction.
At 09:17 on Sunday the 23rd November at Clifton 4th Beach, a freak gust of wind swirled through the usually sheltered 4th Beach resulting in injuries to three lifesaving community members. Clifton Surf Lifesaving Club was hosting the Nipper competition when the incidents took place. A small portion of Cherry squad was on duty for the competition alongside the lifeguard safety officers.
Conditions on the day were windy, approximately 40km/h with gusts reaching up to 70+km/h from a SSE direction. Clifton 4th Beach which is famously known for being sheltered from the South Easter wind was not left untouched when a freak gust swept through the beach. The gust hurled umbrellas, beach chairs, boards around the competitors and spectators and knocked the 4th Beach lifeguard tower over.
During this gust, three members of the lifesaving community were unfortunately injured. In one incident a Clifton Surf lifeguard, who was sitting on the lifeguard tower watching over the beach, was flung from the tower as it blew over, resulting in the tower landing on the lifeguard’s leg. Fellow lifeguards, Leon Walther-Kotze, Isabella Greenfield and a doctor, Jonathan Wicht, who is a master and current lifeguard in training at Clifton Surf, immediately responded. After assisting the lifeguard from under the tower, they assessed her and noted she had intense pain on her right thigh and large bruising. The team called for a spinal board to transport her to the medical room where they then secured a splint to her leg and applied ice. Jonathan and the team of lifeguards continued to assess her condition and pulse and sensation in her legs which was fortunately normal. The injured lifeguard was transported to hospital by Netcare 911 paramedics.
In a second incident, a mother of one of the Nippers was hit on her side by multiple boards as they hurled across the beach. Pia Weakly and Hannah McClelland who were stationed at the boatshed, witnessing the commotion, ran down to prevent boards and other items from rolling across the beach, after which, they noticed people were injured and immediately grabbed medical bags to assist. They responded, together with the competition paramedic, to the mother who had severe pain on her left side and was struggling to move. The team assessed her and then held c-spine. Meanwhile, Darryl Lindt, who was originally on the IRB (inflatable rescue boat), brought a spinal board and together with the lifeguards, competition paramedic and other lifesaving members, immobilised the mother to the spinal board and transported her to the boatshed for further evaluation and treatment. The mother was later transported by ER24 paramedics to hospital.
In the third incident, a young Nipper was hit in the head by a flying board. Daniel Lubbe, who was driving the IRB for the competition and then helping coordinate the various incidents afterwards, was alerted to the Nipper and went to assist him. Daniel brought the Nipper to the boatshed for further assistance as the young boy was experiencing pain in his neck. After further assessment by the lifeguards and paramedics, the boy was secured to a spinal board as a precaution and then transported to hospital by Taurus paramedics.
In a freak and chaotic situation, all members of the lifesaving community, from coaches, safety officers, officials, Cherry duty squad lifeguards to parents, all worked together in various capacities to ensure that our fellow lifeguards and members all received the best possible care. This is a great testament to the culture of helping one another through vigilance and service embodied in the lifesaving movement. All three patients are recovering well from their injuries.
We also thank the paramedic services, ER24, Netcare 911 and Taurus for their fast response and support.