Injured body boarder flown to SA

The body boarder who was hospitalised after he sustained injuries at Donkey's Bay has been flown to South Africa. The manager of Welwitschia private hospital Garreth Smith confirmed that an injured Stefan Dreyer was stabilised , released and flown to Cape Town on Thursday. Smith said Dreyer – a South African - was in a stable condition and that the injury aspect concerning the patient was confidential and he could not disclose its nature. According to a report by STAB Magazine a South African photographer, Alan van Gysen witnessed how Dreyer was injured while body boarding, nearly drowned and was amongst those who rushed to his rescue. Surfers were apparently preparing to get the waves of their life when all of a sudden whistles and shouts for help started echoing. Van Gysen recounted how a Hawaiian surfer Eli Olsen who had seen the body boarder got injured paddled frantically to his assistance. According to Van Gysen, Olsen quickly paddled to the injured Dreyer. When he got to him, Olsen rolled Dreyer over and discovered that he was conscious but paralysed. He swung around behind him, moved him into a C-spine position and supported Dryer's head and neck with his hands and arms through his shoulders. His friends and a few other surfers struggled to bring the injured Dreyer to the shore because of a strong A surfer and Dr Callum Swift were on the scene moments after Eli managed to stabilise the injured body boarder on the beach. He determined through a basic trauma check that Dryer suffered a head injury and a possible neck injury.Within 30-mins of the accident and assistance provided by Shaun Loubser, the E-Med Rescue 24 medical response team arrived. They wrapped Dreyer in a space blanket and safely transferred him to the emergency vehicle on a stretcher. According to Lettani Garner a colleague of Dryer, his friend dreamed about surfing Donkey Bay and his wife and two daughters was anxiously waiting for him in South Africa. OTIS FINCK

Injured body boarder flown to SA

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Namibian Sun 2026-08-11

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Injured body boarder flown to SA

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Namibian Sun 2026-08-11

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