A fisherman turned hero at Dias Beach in Mossel Bay, South Africa, when he used his fishing gear to pull a woman to safety after she got caught in dangerous rip currents during her midnight swim.
In Jesus’ ministry, He chose ordinary people like fishermen to do extraordinary things. They had no prior experience with ministry, but God equipped them with His Spirit to become fishers of men.
In the same way, God used a fisherman to save a precious life with just a hook and line, showing us once again how He works through ordinary people in remarkable ways.
The story began on December 18 when a 31-year-old woman from George decided to swim at Dias Beach around 1 AM. The peaceful night swim turned dangerous when strong rip currents during the Spring low tide pulled her away from the shore. Several fishermen on the beach spotted her struggling in the water.
One fisherman saw her distress and acted fast. He took his fishing rod with a Kabeljou hook and cast his line toward her. The hook caught onto her jeans, giving him the chance to slowly and carefully reel her back to shore.
When she reached water up to her waist, another fisherman went into the water to help her walk to the beach.
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Mossel Bay team got the emergency call at 00:57. They rushed to the scene along with the SA Police Services, Frontier Medix ambulance team, Western Cape Provincial Traffic Services, and Mossel Bay Fire and Rescue Services. By the time they reached, the woman was safe on the beach.
The medical team checked her and treated her for non-fatal drowning symptoms. She recovered well and didn’t need any more medical help, thanks to the quick rescue that saved her from a worse situation.
The NSRI praised the local fisherman for saving the woman’s life. While we don’t know his name, his quick thinking and fishing skills turned what could have been a tragic night into a story of hope and courage.
This rescue shows us how God prepares us to help others in unexpected ways. He places people with the right skills at the right place and time to help those in trouble.
When we see someone in need, God gives us the wisdom to use what we have to help them. We thank God for protecting this woman and for using a skilled fisherman to save her life.