WOLTEMADE SEERREDDINGSINSTITUUT

“WOLRAAD WOLTEMADE”

Op 1 Junie 1773 het Wolraad Woltemade met sy perd Vonk die koue Kaapse winter waters trotseer om die gestrande bemanning van die VOC-skip, De Jonge Thomas, te hulp te kom. Veertien lede van die skip se bemanning is gered nadat hy sewe keer die branders aangedurf het. Met sy agtste poging het die skip finaal gesink, en het ses van die oorblywende matrose wat aan die wrak vasgeklou het pankiekbevange aan Woltemade en sy perd probeer klou.

Teen hierdie stadium was beide al uitgeput, en het hulle onder die branders verdwyn. Die volgende oggend is die liggame van Woltemade en Vonk op die strand gevind. Nou, meer as 200 jaar na sy heldedaad, is die naam Wolraad Woltemde steeds sinoniem met die onbaatsugtige opoffering vir jou medemens en dapperheid.

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On 1 June 1773 Wolraad Woltemade mounted his steed Vonk, and urged him into the icy waters of the Cape in an attempt to rescue the stranded sailors of the wrecked VOC-ship, De Jonge Thomas. Fourteen of the sailors were saved after he faced the stormy seas seven times, but during his eighth attempt the ship finally disappeared beneath the surface, and the desperate men clinging to her hull threw themselves onto Woltemade in a final attempt to escape.

At this stage both rider and horse were exhausted, and were dragged below the waves. The following morning the bodies of Woltemade and Vonk were found on the beach. Now, more than 200 years later, the name Wolraad Woltemade is still synonymous with selfless sacrifice and ultimate bravery. [/read]