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Family rescued in beach drama

March 19, 2006 Edition 1

Noelene Barbeau

Amazing human spirit saved a mother and her three daughters yesterday when they were swept out to sea from a North Coast beach.

Good Samaritans performed CPR on 12-year-old Caitlin McMillan before she was flown to Umhlanga Hospital, where she is in intensive care in a critical condition.

The McMillan family of Johannesburg were spending a long weekend at Westbrook Beach, and were enjoying a morning at the beach.

"The girls and I were paddling in knee-deep water. We were all holding hands when a big wave crashed over us. The strong current swept us off our feet," said mom Mary McMillan.

Brigid, 14, and Treasa, 9, were separated from Mary and Caitlin and pushed towards rocks. Their father, Rory, was on the shore and immediately swam out to them. Others also swam to help rescue the girls.

"It was so amazing. There was hardly anyone on the beach and then all of a sudden people came rushing to help," said Mary.

She was swept about 400m out to sea and was disorientated.

"A surfer, Flynn Dowell, saw me floating in the water and came to help. He wanted me to get on to his surfboard so he could paddle us back, but I swam instead. He talked me through swimming back to shore. Another person swam out and also guided me back," she said.

Brigid and Treasa were helped by their father and other swimmers back to shore.

"I phoned the emergency services and they put me through to the police and the lifeguards at the beach," said Brigid.

Rory found his daughter Caitlin face down in the water.

"Two people on the beach and a lifeguard performed CPR on Caitlin. They were amazing," said Rory.

Not sure of their exact location, Netcare 911 paramedic Valerie Noble parked on the freeway and then ran "for dear life" on to the beach.

"The people performing CPR did a fantastic job. We managed to get a good pulse before Caitlin was airlifted to hospital," said Noble.

barbeau@sundaytribune.co.za

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