A British Ironman triathlete has carried out a heroic rescue of two drowning people off the coast of Cape Town in South Africa.
Toby Finneran, 31, from Farnham in Surrey, was enjoying a Sunday walk in the sun along Cape Town’s seafront promenade when he spotted a young boy fighting to keep his head above water in the surf.
Risking life and limb, he dove into the water, overcoming the powerful waves, rip currents and jagged rocks of Queens Beach before hauling the desperate boy to safety.
Once out of the water, Toby quickly administered essential first aid to another teenage boy who had tried to save his friend but was battered by the sea and washed face down onto the beach.
But despite the display of courage, Toby told MailOnline he was surprised by the outpouring of gratitude and support he’s received since then.
“I’ve messaged hundreds of people I haven’t spoken to in years to say, well done. It drives everyone else crazy… but to me it felt weirdly normal.
‘I’ve seen a lot of shows like Bondi Beach Rescue and thought about something like this… it was a strange experience – it felt very normal to me.
“I don’t feel like a hero… If someone is in trouble, help.”
Toby Finneran, 31, from Farnham, Surrey, completed a miraculous rescue of a drowning man
Toby has competed in Ironman triathlons and splits his time between the UK and South Africa
A photo by Toby shows the jagged rocks of Queens Beach where the rescue took place
Toby first noticed something was wrong when he saw a teenager messing around with a pink lifebuoy on the beach and quickly realized there was a figure fighting to keep his head above water in the churn.
With no regard for his own safety, Toby took the terrified teen’s lifebuoy and dove into the sea, emerging from the jagged rocks of Queens Beach and offering the buoy to the victim – a distressed boy who was a poor swimmer and had reached the shallow water.
As the boy clutched the lifesaving device, Toby grabbed hold of the rope and began to swim back to shore to get the boy to safety – only for a swell of waves crashing into them and pushing them to the rocks.
‘Before the next wave came I swam quickly over to him, handed him the buoy and held onto his arm.
“I realized that the same rip current that had gotten the boy into trouble was pushing us back out to sea.
“I swam sideways on and over to one of the rocks where I could hold on until another set of waves came along and I was able to push myself past the rocks, causing a few cuts and scrapes.”
“When we came out he was very weak and had leg cramps, arm and chest pain.”
Toby administered first aid to his charge and the other boy whose rescue attempt failed until National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) responders arrived alongside paramedics.
Both boys were treated by emergency services, one of whom showed symptoms of hypothermia and secondary drowning — a potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when someone inhales water that irritates the lungs and causes a deadly fluid buildup — but lived to tell the story.
Toby saved two lives in the space of ten minutes — but told MailOnline that his incredible abilities as an Ironman triathlete are still relatively new.
Cape Town’s beaches are idyllic, but are known for their dangerous rocks and strong currents that can pull people out to sea
“Before the COVID pandemic, I lived in a very different way and had some unhealthy habits,” said Toby.
‘I lived in London and had a sales job that I hated because the company was taken over twice and there was a lot of political maneuvering.
“I’ve always been sporty and play a lot of cricket and rugby, but I got injured and found myself eating too much and getting sucked into the English drinking culture.”
Toby said the pandemic was a great reset and pushed him to completely change his life and health.
‘Ofar lockdown I started running. My initial goal was 20 minutes a day, but I quickly got locked into a virtuous circle.
“I once ran five miles a day for ten days in a row, which was a huge milestone for me.
“Then those five kilometers became seven. Seven became 10. 10 became half marathons and before long I was running marathons.
“Then I went to Hungary to run an ultramarathon and then decided to compete in an Ironman triathlon.”
After the pandemic, the transformed Briton now leads a completely different life.
Toby divides his time between the UK and South Africa where he has established a technical consultancy and continues to compete in Ironman triathlons while also playing cricket for a local team.
“I think the lockdown caused people to change lifestyles… it was a wake-up call for a lot of people,” said Toby, adding that he is now very happy with his new life in South Africa.
“I’m here chasing the sun!” he said.