Cape Town - South Africa enjoyed a golden start to the 2018 Lifesaving World Championships in Adelaide, Australia.
The SA junior team of Kira Bester, Tamryn McKie, Alice Edward and Milan Erasmus won the mixed Simulated Emergency Rescue Competition (SERC), while South Africa's seniors Carmel Billson, Bianca von Bargen, Sasha-Lee Corris Nordengen and Johan Lourens finished fourth in the mixed SERC.
New Zealand are the defending champions, but hosts Australia have been the most impressive in all international competitions since the 2016 World Championships.
The Australians will be favourites to win the overall title.
Team South Africa squads
Senior women: Sasha-Lee Corris Nordengen (capt), Keyta Purchase, Carmel Billson, Bianca von Bargen, Kristin Bellingham and Mandi Maritz (all Marine). Senior men: Ryle de Morny (capt, False Bay), Josh Saunders (Marine), Martin Binnedal (Marine), Johan Lourens (Tuks), Nick Notten, Dominic Notten (Fish Hoek).
Youth women: Sulinke van den Berg (capt, Manguang), Alice Edward, Ally Chislett (both Pirates), Tamryn Mckie (Marine), Paige Horn (Umhlanga), Kira Bester (Strand).
Youth men: Milan Erasmus (captain, Durban Surf), Juan Pierre van Zyl (Harties Reflections), Connor Botha (Umhlanga), Matthew Fenn (East London), Daniel Jacobs (Fish Hoek), Calvin Coetzee (Pirates).
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