KZN Woman Saved from Near-Drowning After Distress Call Sparks Urgent Beach Search
A dramatic rescue unfolded at Umdloti Beach on Sunday evening after a 34-year-old newlywed woman was pulled from the surf in what is believed to have been a suicide attempt following a domestic dispute.
The incident occurred just after 18h25, when Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) received a call from the distressed woman’s family. According to reports, she had sent a troubling message indicating her intent to end her life and stated she was at the beach.
When the family arrived at Umdloti, they found her parked vehicle—but no sign of her nearby. Fearing the worst, they contacted the RUSA Operations Centre. RUSA’s Operations Manager, Kieran Ramjogi, quickly responded and joined the woman’s father in a desperate shoreline search using torches as darkness fell.
Their efforts paid off when they spotted her floating in the water. Without hesitation, Ramjogi and the woman’s father entered the surf and pulled her to safety. She was semi-conscious and showing signs of distress. Immediate CPR was administered onshore as she began vomiting, and paramedics rushed her to a nearby hospital for further treatment.
Family members revealed that the woman had been married only a month ago, adding a tragic dimension to the incident. The circumstances that led to the apparent suicide attempt are believed to be related to a domestic altercation, although no further details have been released.
Thanks to swift action and coordination between her family and first responders, the woman survived the ordeal. Her condition is currently being monitored, and she is expected to receive psychological support in the afterm
