A boating accident on the Goukou River in Stilbaai left a young woman seriously injured on Friday afternoon, 19 December.

According to the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Station 31 in Stilbaai, duty crews were activated at around 14:21 after reports of an accident upstream on the river.

NSRI Stilbaai station commander, Stéfan Grové, said it appears a couple from Centurion were ejected from their private boat while it was underway.

The boat’s motors reportedly remained engaged, causing the vessel to strike the woman while she was in the water, resulting in severe injuries.

The woman was rescued from the river by a family on a private boat, who pulled her from the water and transported her to the Stilbaai jetty.

There, NSRI medics and crew, a local doctor and members of the Stilbaai community worked together to provide urgent medical care. At the time, the woman was in a critical condition.

A second private boat assisted at the scene and brought the man involved in the accident safely to shore.

Western Cape Government Health EMS responded, and the 27-year-old woman was transported by ambulance to hospital before being transferred to a private facility. She remains in a serious but stable condition under the care of doctors and nurses.

The casualty boat later ran ashore and was subsequently recovered.

The NSRI commended the family who rescued the woman from the water, the crew of the second private boat, and the broader Stilbaai community for their swift and coordinated response.

“Our thoughts are with the woman recovering in hospital and with the families involved during this difficult time,” the NSRI said.