The Counterespionage community & Security Industry has lost a dear friend, Raymond Van Staden gave his life to save a 10yr old boy from drowning this past Good Friday. He was a true HERO, and my Friend...GOD Bless his soul, and console his family. JDLiol.co.za
'How do I tell him daddy is gone?'
He has protected the lives of Hansie Cronje and Steffi Graf, but Raymond van Staden was on Saturday hailed as a hero for giving his life to save a 10-year-old boy from drowning on a Durban beach.
Paramedics, police and municipal officials said on Saturday that Van Staden, 48, was walking along Warner Beach, near Amanzimtoti, about noon on Friday when he noticed Christiaan de Klerk, 10, and his father struggling to stay afloat in the strong currents.
The nearest lifeguards were more than 1km away at Winklespruit, and they rushed to Warner Beach in rubber ducks and other emergency vehicles when told of the incident. Realising the boy needed help, Van Staden rushed into the water and, together with the boy's father, kept Christiaan aloft long enough for lifeguards to pull him into one of the boats.
eThekwini municipality deputy head of parks and recreation, Christo Swart, said the boy and his father were taken to the beach, where CPR was performed.
While Christiaan survived, his father and Van Staden couldn't be resuscitated.
Christiaan was rushed to the Kingsway Hospital in Amanzimtoti, and was discharged on Saturday. It is believed he was visiting Durban from Pretoria with his family for the Easter weekend.
More...
Comments