Heroic gym employees jump into pool to save drowning man.

Gareth Utton is lucky to be alive after having a seizure and losing consciousness last week in the pool at Planet Fitness gym located in Johannesburg. Thanks to two brave employees that jumped into the pool to save him from drowning, Gareth lives to tell his story.

Gareth Utton had planned to swim two kilometres in the pool that day but during the last stretch of his swim something went terribly wrong. Gareth mentioned that he cannot remember the lap before he lost consciousness, however the footage shows that he stopped swimming and stood for a couple of seconds before the seizure occurred.

It was during this time that Gareth let out a cry for help in an attempt to save himself before blacking out and sinking to the floor of the gym pool.

Luckily, Planet Fitness employee Karabo Thosago heard Gareth’s yell from the men’s change room corridor and rushed to the pool area to see what who cried out for help.

Karabo saw Gareth’s body lying motionless at the bottom of the pool. Instead of panicking, he quickly ripped off his jacket, threw it onto the ground and without any hesitation dived into the pool to rescue Gareth.

While struggling to move Gareth’s dead weight another employee at the gym Brandon Murigagumbo saw what was going on and rushed to the pool to help Karabo. Brandon quickly through his phone onto the floor before jumping in to help rescue Gareth.

It is a miracle to say that within a few minutes of being out of the water Gareth regained consciousness and the two men were deemed heroes.

Last week Thursday a special ceremony was held in their honour where both Brandon and Karabo received cash rewards as well as free lifeguard and first aid training.

However the moment was bittersweet for Karabo with his mom passing away last year July.

“It’s painful that I’m getting some awards like this and she’s not around to hug me or just to say congrats. But I am happy that Gareth is alive, that is what makes me happy” Karabo said.

Gareth stated that he is eternally grateful that Karabo and Brandon saved him from drowning. If it weren’t for them being there and saving Gareth then it would’ve been a completely different story.