"They Deserve Awards": Amputee and Teen Save Drowning Man in Durban's Umgeni River

• Tony Botes, an amputee paddler, rushed back into the Umgeni River after a friend alerted him that a man was drowning
• The man had been swept into the river during a religious ceremony when a Spring tide pulled him from the shoreline
• Botes was joined by teenager Cole Nienhüser, who swam out to help keep the man calm during the rescue

A Durban amputee paddler is being hailed a hero after he re-entered the water to help save a drowning man at the uMngeni River mouth on 31 August 2026. Tony Botes, a veteran paddler at Kingfisher Canoe Club, had just finished a session on the water and was getting ready to leave when his friend Njabulo Zondi, who works at the club, came running towards him in a panic.

Zondi told him a man was drowning. A young child also rushed over, saying his uncle was in trouble. Botes did not hesitate. He strapped on his prosthetic leg, grabbed his ski, and paddled out.

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The man in the water had been taking part in a religious ceremony near the shallow shoreline when an incoming Spring tide swept him upriver. By the time Botes reached him, the situation was serious. In a video by Northglennews, Botes said the man kept trying to grab hold of the ski, an instinct but one that made things more difficult. Every time the man rolled over, water entered his mouth. Botes said he kept talking to him, reassuring him, telling him they were not going to heaven that day.

Knowing he was limited with one leg, Botes called out for help. That is when Cole Nienhüser, a teenager from Clifton College who was training at the club, swam out to meet them. Together, the two kept the man calm and slowly guided him back to the bank. Zondi's quick thinking in raising the alarm, Botes' willingness to go back into the water, and Nienhüser's courage in swimming out made the difference. Watch as Tony Botes recounted what happened:

Durban praises heroes

People in the comments on North Glen News' Facebook reel were full of admiration for the three men:

@Andrew Craig wrote:

"Tony, you machine you"

@Godfrey Wheeler said:

"Hey Tony, always been a good man, well done, would have been easier to turn away, but your goodness and kind self. Respect brother. 🥰🥰"

@Luellen Smith added:

"They both deserve an award!!!"

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@Carol Lowry Mercer noted:

"Well done kind men and the young Clifton scholar!! 👏👏👏"

@Allison Jacklin shared:

"Thank you, brave guys. I got goosebumps and tears reading this wonderful rescue. The young swimmer owes his life to you both."

@Christine Clements said:

"Feel good story! Well done to you heroes!! 🙏"

@Sue Edgar wrote:

"What a beautiful testimony to diligence, bravery and self denial"

@Angie Inman added:

"Amazing, well done, especially the young Clifton boy who showed tremendous bravery and strength of character."

Other Briefly News stories about heroes

• The NSRI's urgent rescue operations during severe flooding in the Western Cape, where thousands of residents were displaced.
• Rajendra Dawadi, the headteacher of Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School in Nuwakot, evacuated 900 students before catastrophic flash floods struck on 29 August 2026.
• Five prominent South African figures were celebrated as national heroes in a viral social media tribute.

Source: Briefly News