SunHero (16) saves the day for three teenagers

TEENAGE boy saves three other teenagers from drowning.

Keegan Lowe (16) saved the teenagers from drowning at Pennington Beach in KZN on Tuesday, 19 November.

Linda Putter, National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Rocky Bay deputy station commander, said rip currents had swept the four teenagers away.

"The boy then quickly dived into action and saved three, but it was too late for him to save the fourth boy, who disappeared under the water. The teenager who was swiped away is still missing," said Putter.

Speaking about the teenager's heroics, NSRI spokesman Craig Lambinon said Keegan saved the day.

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"On arrival on the scene, it was established that four (believed to be local teenagers) boys were swimming when they were swept out to sea in rip currents. Keegan, who had been at the beach with his sister and friends, entered the water, wearing one body boarding (diving) fin and managed to rescue two teenage boys, who he reached in the mid surf break.

"After getting the first two boys safely to the beach, Keegan then grabbed a yellow rescue torpedo buoy (that is stationed at the beach) and re-entered the water still wearing the diving fin and went after the other two boys who were in distress beyond the mid surf break. Keegan reached one of the teenagers beyond the mid-surf break, but he couldn't locate the fourth boy. He was able to bring that third teenager out of the water safely to the beach," said Lambinon.

Earlier this week, NSRI warned beachgoers that higher-than-normal tides and rip currents are expected.