It was another busy weekend for the NSRI
SEA RESCUE – NATIONAL – Sunday, 11 December. Incidents and safety alert:
CAPE TOWN:
FALSE BAY:
Nicolette Whitehead, NSRI Strandfontein station commander, said:
At 08h24, Friday, 9 December, NSRI Simonstown, NSRI Strandfontein and the CoCT water rescue network were activated following reports from CoCT shark spotters of a surfer appearing to be in difficulty off-shore of Bailey’s Cottage, Muizenberg.
NSRI rescue craft were launched while NSRI rescue swimmers, CoCT Law Enforcement officers and CoCT shark spotters responded.
Local surfers, who noticed a young female in difficulty, went to her aid.
Local surfers reached the female and were able to tow her safely to the beach where Netcare 911 paramedics medically assessed the female finding her to be not injured.
All emergency resources were released.
We commend the local surfers for their assistance.
ATLANTIC SEABOARD:
Marc de Vos, NSRI Table Bay duty coxswain, said:
At 13h34, Friday, 9 December, NSRI Table Bay duty crew and WC Government Health EMS rescue squad, were activated following a request for medical assistance from a Hout Bay fishing vessel reporting to have an injured crewman onboard.
The NSRI Table Bay rescue craft Rescue 3 was launched, accompanied by 2 EMS rescue paramedics.
We rendezvoused with the vessel 12 nautical miles off-shore of Hout Bay.
2 NSRI rescue swimmers and an EMS rescue paramedic werre transferred onto the vessel where they found the local adult fisherman sadly deceased.
It appears that the fisherman may have fallen overboard the vessel before being recovered by his fellow fishermen who had raised the alarm.
The body of the fisherman was brought to Hout Bay harbour aboard the fishing vessel where they were met by NSRI Hout Bay crew and the SA Police Services.
The body of the man was taken into the care of Government Health forensic Pathology services.
Police have opened an inquest docket.
Condolences are conveyed to family of the deceased man.
KALK BAY:
In a separate incident:
On Sunday, 11 December, at around 13h40, CoCT lifeguards, on duty at Kalk Bay harbour, noticed a man in difficulty in the water.
A CoCT lifeguard, armed with a rescue torpedo buoy, swam out to the man and was able to rescue him safely to shore and he was not injured.
KZN:
SALMON ROCK:
Quentin Power, NSRI Ballito duty coxswain, said:
At 14h30, Sunday, 4 December, while off duty and taking a walk checking on the beaches.
While at Salmon Bay I noticed 2 teenagers, a male and a female, swimming.
Without warning both teenagers disappeared under water.
I raised the alarm activating the KZN water rescue network and NSRI.
I then stripped down to my shorts and entered the water where I managed to reach the 15 year old male and I rescued him to the beach where he was taken into the care of his family.
At that stage a Kwadakuza lifeguard had arrived on the scene and together we launched into the surf and following a free dive search we located and recovered a 15 year old female who had been submerged under water.
Together we rescued her to the shore where we initiated Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation efforts.
After a brief spell she commenced spontaneous breathing while expelling water from her lungs.
IPSS medical rescue paramedics, UIP (Urban Improvement District) members and the SA Police Services arrived on the scene.
Paramedics took over care of the female.
We are appealing to bathers to only swim at beaches protected by lifeguards.
VETCHIES:
Jonathan Kellerman, NSRI Durban station commander, said:
At 10h06, Sunday, 11 December, NSRI Durban duty crew were activated to a man on sea kayak in difficulty 2 kilometers off-shore of Vetchies Beach.
The sea-kayak was taking on water and the man had raised the alarm through a friend.
The NSRI rescue craft Spirit of Surfski 6 was launched while eThekwini lifeguards and SA Lifesaving lifeguards launched inshore rescue craft.
A private ski-boat had also gone to the assistance of the paddle.
Lifeguards and the private ski-boat reached them man and secured his safety.
On the NSRI rescue craft arriving on the scene the local adult male was taken onboard our NSRI rescue craft and his sea-kayak was recovered.
We brought him safely to shore where he required no further assistance.
NSRI are appealing to boaters, paddlers and sail boarder’s to download and use the NSRI RSA SafeTrx smart phone application from our web page www.nsri.org.za.
DURBAN PORT:
On Saturday 3 December, at 22h30, NSRI Durban launched the sea rescue craft Alec Rennie, to patient evacuate a crewman suffering an illness from a chemical tanker.
The NSRI rescue craft Alec Rennie was launched and we rendezvoused with the vessel 3 nautical miles off-shore of the Port of Durban.
The patient was brought to our NSRI rescue station and transported to hospital for further care.
At around 11am, Sunday, 4 December, we assisted a local pleasure craft with a local couple onboard.
Their craft suffered engine failure inside the Port of Durban.
Their craft was taken under tow by NSRI and towed safely to their moorings.
DURBAN:
On Saturday 10 December, at 06h36, NSRI Durban duty crew were activated to patient evacuate an adult male Ukranian from a container motor vessel suffering a medical complaint.
Accompanied by Netcare 911 rescue paramedics we launched the sea rescue craft Alec Rennie and rendezvoused with the vessel 7 nautical miles off-shore of the Durban Port North breakwater.
An NSRI rescue swimmer and Netcare 911 rescue paramedic boarded the vessel where the patient was treated before being secured into a Stokes basket stretcher.
The patient was transferred onto our NSRI rescue craft.
By that stage they were 15 nautical miles from the Durban Port.
The patient was brought to our NSRI Durban rescue station and he has been transported to hospital in a stable condition by a Netcare 911 ambulance.
KENTON-ON-SEA:
Gerrit Cloete, NSRI Port Alfred deputy station commander, said:
At 09h33, Wednesday, 7 December, NSRI Port Alfred duty crew were activated to respond to Kenton-On-Sea following reports of a 4 meter pencil duck in difficulty with motor failure at East Rock.
The NSRI rescue craft rescue 11 Alpha was launched while our NSRI rescue vehicle responded to Kenton-On-Sea.
On arrival on the scene we found the 2 men on their boat which was drifting towards rocks.
We took both men, one from Grahamstown and one from Fort Beaufort, onto our NSRI rescue craft and brought them safely to shore.
We then returned to their craft where we set up a towline and towed their craft to the beach without incident.
No further assistance was required.
Rotary are assisting NSRI to raise funds to establish an NSRI rescue station atr Kenton-On-Sea.
AGULHAS:
Reinard Geldenhuys, NSRI Agulhas station commander, said:
On Wednesday, 30 November, NSRI Agulhas duty crew were activated to assist in a search for 2 military RIBS (rigid inflatable boat) that were overdue between Witsand and Agulhas.
The NSRI rescue craft Spirit of Agulhas was launched while an additional NSRI rescue craft was towed to Arniston where it was launched.
During a search we found both military craft about 2 nautical miles off-shore of Arniston.
One of the military RIBS had suffered mechanical failure and their second RIB had that boat under tow but they were short of fuel.
We took both RIBS under tow and towed one of them to Struisbaai where the boat was recovered and we towed one of them safely to Arniston without incident.
No further assistance was required.
NSRI NATIONAL SAFETY:
NSRI are appealing to all recreational water users, our fellow South Africans and tourists visiting our country, to have a safety conscious mindset in and around water.
Rip currents remain the greatest cause of drowning accidents on the coast.
Coastal Bathers should only swim at beaches protected by lifeguards.
Boaters, paddlers and sailors should download and use the NSRI RSA Safetrx Smart Phone Application and carry and know how to use your safety equipment.
Anglers fishing along our shores should keep a safe distance from the water.
Everyone should be aware of the daily 2 high tides and 2 low tides and be aware of Spring tide that happens during the full moon and new moon phases.
Inland water users on lakes, rivers, lagoons, swimming pools or in any body of water should approach these recreational activities with safety top of mind.
Children must be supervised by responsible adults when they are swimming.
One of the hardest tasks NSRI, in cooperation with the SA Police Services and the emergency services, endure is that task of telling a family that there loved one will not be coming home .
Our thoughts remain with all those families that we have shared in their worst tragedy over the years.
NSRI and the emergency services are well rested and highly prepared to respond to emergencies this summer.
To report a water rescue emergency contact 112 or 0870949774.
With all of this in mind our focus, in cooperation with the public at large, is to prevent drowning and water related accidents this summer.
We therefore appeal to everyone making use of water for recreational purposes to have safety top of mind.