Watch: NSRI rescue swimmer helps rescue two women from a sinking car

Posted on 4 May 2023

While on holiday in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, NSRI Hout Bay rescue swimmer Martin Wesemann, along with a friend and a sailor named Tony, rescued two women from a sinking car that accidentally drove down a slipway and into the Honokohau Marina and Small Boat Harbour.

On Saturday, 29 April, Martin Wesemann and his South African friend Sean Hutchinson, who lives in Hawaii, had just returned from a cruise on Sean’s boat with some friends.

As they were on the boat next to the slipway, they observed a vehicle with two women inside drive past them down the slipway without stopping, entering the water, and beginning to sink further into the harbour.

The women were then seen attempting to escape through the front windows of the sinking vehicle. Without hesitation, Martin, Sean and their fellow sailor Tony jumped into the water to assist them.

They were able to successfully rescue the two women by helping them escape through the front windows and bringing them safely to shore.

Emergency services, including police, fire and rescue services and an ambulance, arrived promptly to provide additional assistance.

In the meantime, Martin established a towline for the vehicle using a rope, attaching it to the axle since there was no tow bar on the vehicle. Martin used a bowline knot to secure the towline underwater.

Fortunately, neither of the women sustained any injuries during the incident. The group believes that the vehicle’s navigation system may have led the women to drive down the slipway accidentally.

A video was filmed capturing the incident. Martin is wearing a grey shirt, Tony is wearing a red shirt and Sean is wearing a black shirt.

Written by Sarah du Toit

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