Another Pietermaritzburg learner hailed a hero after saving boy from drowning
Another Pietermaritzburg school learner has saved a fellow learner from drowning — the second such incident reported in the city in recent weeks.
The Witness reports that in the latest case, a 13-year-old learner from Gateway Christian School in the city centre, acting on pure instinct and pushing aside his fear, dived into the deep end of a swimming pool to rescue an eight-year-old boy.
Award for bravery
Seluleko Dlamini, a Grade 7 learner, was presented with an award for his bravery and heroic actions last Thursday by the school, along with a cash prize.
The incident occurred during a school excursion to Mountain View Entertainment Centre in Bishopstowe, which coincidentally was also hosting another school at the time.
According to Seluleko, he had been swimming in the shallow end of the pool, as instructed by staff and teachers, before climbing out and heading to the tuck shop for a drink.
On his way, he noticed a boy struggling in the deep end.
'I just couldn't not help'
'I noticed a boy, maybe seven or eight years old, drowning in the deep end. I'm a good swimmer, but had anxiety that I would also drown if I helped him. I just couldn't not help. I counted to three and jumped in.'
He said the boy felt light as he carried him, which helped him push the child out of the pool.
Seluleko said he also hurt his leg, though he only realised this later.
He said all he could feel was a rush of adrenaline and panic until the boy was given the all-clear.
In that moment, Seluleko said: 'I felt like I did a good thing.'
'He helped on his own'
Mosiea, a Grade 7 teacher for isiZulu and creative arts, said teachers were alerted by learners screaming.
By the time they reached the pool, Seluleko had already helped the boy, who was crying and in shock.
'What amazes me is his instinct to help, because other learners screamed. Seluleko didn't try to report what was happening, he helped on his own.
'Without his intervention, the child may have drowned. It was scary. While we had learners from Grades 4 to 7, the other school seemed to have much younger grades,' she said, adding that a rope had been used to prevent learners from entering the deep end, but it appeared the child may have slipped in.
Gateway Christian School principal Leon du Casse said Seluleko's actions had turned a 'dangerous situation into a powerful testimony of hope and heroism'.
Similar incident in May
In May, The Witness reported on eight-year-old Lucia Els, from Ridge Junior Primary, who was hailed a hero after she saved her three-year-old cousin from drowning in a swimming pool during a family gathering.
The children had been playing on a trampoline at the bottom of the yard when Lucia's three-year-old epileptic cousin, Freya Bezuidenhout, wandered off and fell into the pool.
Lucia's mother, Liesl, said that from their position on the deck, the family was in no position to act quickly.
However, Lucia, who was with the other children closer to the pool, immediately recognised the danger and acted decisively.
She was awarded a certificate and a medal by the school for her efforts.
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