SWAKOPMUND – The community of Henties Bay and the wider Erongo region has hailed the death of paramedic Brian Low (60) as a great loss for the region’s emergency rescue services as well as for the Henties Bay community.

Residents and emergency workers over the weekend paid tribute to Low, a well-known emergency responder and partner of LifeLink Emergency Services, who drowned on Thursday while attempting to rescue three teenage boys caught in a rip current at Henties Bay.

According to the Namibian police, the incident occurred around 15h30.

Inspector Sarafine Kandjimi told New Era that two girls alerted a resident who was sitting on the shoreline about three boys who were struggling to swim ashore.

“Emergency services were alerted and Low was one of the responders,” she said.

Head of traffic and emergency services in Henties Bay, Johannes Makina, received an SOS reporting that three boys were trapped in a strong rip current and were unable to swim back to shore.

Makina told New Era that he immediately alerted Low, and the two rushed to the beach and entered the water together.

“We swam towards the boys, but the conditions became increasingly difficult. We reached a point where it was very deep, and I told Brian that we needed to turn back,” Makina said.

As they attempted to retreat, Low was swept away by the current.

“It looked like he slipped into a hole and the current just carried him out. Under those conditions, I could not reach him,” Makina said.

Makina managed to swim out and called for additional assistance. A rubber duck was deployed shortly thereafter, and Low’s body was recovered from the water. The three teenagers were rescued during the same operation.

Makina described the loss as devastating for the community Low served for over a decade, as well as for his family.

Low, a British-Zimbabwean national, started his career as a young police officer in Harare, where he was exposed to firefighting and high-risk emergency situations. 

“He went on to dedicate himself to rescue work, eventually becoming involved in sea rescue operations and serving as a volunteer firefighter. He was always the first on the scene,” Makina recalled.  “No matter the time, no matter the situation, Brian would come. He was an asset to Henties Bay and the wider Erongo region when it came to emergency services. He helped many people and saved many lives,” Makina said.

Another Henties Bay resident, Yvonne Snyders, also described Low as “a good human being who was never looking for attention or praise. – edeklerk@nepc.com.na