Lifesaver of elderly crewman lauded

The Natal Sharks Board has a shy hero, Marc Lange, who swam for 30 minutes in rough seas to rescue an elderly man who was one of four people from a boat that had capsized off the North Coast.

On Friday, Lange, a member of the board's operations staff, was honoured by his employers, Surf Lifesaving South Africa, the Commonwealth Life Saving Society and the International Lifesaving Federation.

"In view of his heroic actions, the Sharks Board presented him with a bravery award at their annual awards function," said the board's deputy chief executive officer, Mike Anderson-Reade.

Dhaya Sewduth, the President of Lifesaving South Africa, presented a certificate of bravery on behalf of the national body. Jelle Meintsma, of the International Lifesaving Federation, presented Lange with the Prince Michael Award.

Lange declined to talk about his heroics, saying he believed in "just getting the job done".

He was at the Mapelane Billfish Classic in February 2004 when a boat with a four-man crew, two of whom were over 60, capsized in rough seas.

According to the citation, "Lange put on his spear-fishing fins and swam out through the pounding waves to the rescue of one of the elderly crewmen, known only as Lappies."