Teenager helps rescue German family caught in Port Alfred rip-currents

A teenager has helped rescue a German family from drowning at Port Alfred's Eastern Beach, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said on Thursday.

"It appears that the father had been swept off his feet by rip-currents [on Wednesday] and his daughter and son had tried to assist him," said NSRI spokesman Craig Lambinon.

"But [they were also] caught in the rip-currents."

They started swimming against the current to try to get back to shore, said Lambinon.

A 17-year-old local, Jaco Roussouw, who was on the beach at the time helped.

"[He] raised the alarm and then he waded into the water and shouted instructions to the family to swim parallel to the beach [to get out of the rip-current]," explained Lambinon.

"The daughter, obeying the instructions from Jaco, had then towed her father across the beachfront until they were free of the rip-current and... managed to make their way towards the beach where Jaco then assisted them out of the water and onto the beach."

At first, it appeared that they were not injured but the father, Ludder Grosse-Heidermann, was in shock.

"We transported the family to hospital to be checked out medically..." said Lambinon.

"Mr Grosse-Heidermann recovered and they are ever grateful to Jaco for assisting them."

The NSRI commended the teenager for his help.

It was unclear if the family were on holiday or lived in the country.