The fishing boat is recovered at Hout Bay. Picture Lyall Pringle/NSRI

At 17h03 on Friday the 24th of May Hout Bay volunteers  were called out by the Transnet National Ports Authority to assist a small fishing boat, with 3 local Hout Bay fishermen onboard, lost in dense fog and believed to be in the vicinity of Cape Point.

Lyall Pringle, NSRI Hout Bay station commander, said: “Our duty crew launched  NADINE GORDIMER and ALBIE MATTHEWS and a search commenced in dense fog for the boat. The three fishermen had only a vague idea of where they could be based on their estimated compass direction that they had travelled from Hout Bay and the length of time and speed that they had been underway.

“The fishermen had run out of fuel and were adrift in 35 meters depth of water with only a 25 meter length anchor chain so the usual procedure of getting them to put to anchor and wait for the fog to lift was not an option.

“Based on the information available we narrowed down the search area to  between the shoreline and 3 nautical miles out to sea, between Kommetjie and Cape Point. While searching in this area we found the fishermen at approximately 22h00 just over 3 nautical miles off Soetwater (between Kommetjie and Cape Point). A tow-line was rigged and we towed them safely to Hout Bay harbour, arriving just after midnight.”

NSRI are urging boaters to carry all safety equipment required including GPS (Global Positioning System) device and to check weather forecasts before launching particularly on the West Coast which sees dense fog conditions regularly during winter months.

Pictures are available for media download on Sea Rescue’s Flickr page.

The NSRI volunteers with the three fishermen and their family members who were waiting for them. Picture Lyall Pringle/NSRI

Nadine Gordimer off Hout Bay.

“Well done to all involved – and lets hope the NSRI sees the benefit for its dangerous and vital work.. Orchids to Ogilvy, Velocity and not least, to the NSRI and all its crews.”

Howick West Primary School is the school where I worked before I retired last year, so teachers and learners were all well-known to me.

I was greeted most enthusiastically by one and all and it was lovely to be back. I will be revisiting the school to cover the Water Safety requirement of the Life Orientation learning area of the new CAPS curriculum for Grades 3, 4 and 5.  The teachers will contact me in order to fit the lesson into the correct time frame so that there will be pre-lesson knowledge and post lesson follow up.

Grade 3 had just returned from Break and were quite lively so I used some calming strategies with them, encouraging rhythmic breathing and stretch and relax exercises. We talked about river safety especially using the PLAN routine and of course learning the Emergency number. I followed through with a re-enforcing exercise of colouring in a worksheet that had safety tips and the Emergency number.

A most enjoyable morning!

Howick West Primary children and the WaterWise chart.

Howick kids learn the WaterWise PLAN.

NSRI volunteers on Mpho assist a fisherman suffering from chest pains. Picture Ian Hamilton/NSRI.

Mossel Bay:

At 19h33 on Wednesday the 22nd of May NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew were activated following a request for medical assistance from the fishing trawler MPHO reporting a 55 year old local fisherman onboard suffering chest pains.

Judd Smook, NSRI Mossel Bay deputy station commander, said: “Our duty crew launched VODACOM RESCUER II and accompanied by two ER24 paramedics and we rendezvoused with MPHO 10 nautical miles off-shore in 2 to 3 meter swells and a gusting 50 knot South Easterly wind.

“A NSRI rescuer and the two ER24 paramedics were put aboard MPHO where they treated the fisherman for a suspected heart attack.

“They remained on MPHO, which was escorted to Port, and once safely in the Mossel Bay harbour the patient was taken off the trawler and transported to hospital by an ER24 ambulance in a stable but serious condition. He is being treated by doctors.”

The picture is available for media download on Sea Rescue’s Flickr page.

Gordons Bay:

At 13h51 on Wednesday on 22nd May NSRI Gordons Bay volunteers were activated to assist Police who were looking for a man who was suspected to have gone missing in the surf along the Strand shoreline.

A fisherman had noticed the man going for a swim but after the bather failed to return to collect his clothing (which was left on the beach) the fisherman raised the alarm.

An extensive sea and shore search commenced with NSRI sea rescue craft, a sea rescue quad bike, Police and a Police Dive Unit but after no sign of the man could be found and with no reports of anyone overdue or missing and no further information to go on the search was suspended at 17h00. Police will continue to monitor the situation to see if anyone is reported overdue or missing but there is no reason to believe at this stage that the man is missing in the sea.

It remains unknown why the clothing was left on the beach.

They were all overwhelmed by the fact that all our search and rescue operations are carried out by volunteers and, in the words of Thandi Mabena, HR Manager at De Beers Marine “It was a most humbling experience to discover that there are still such good people out there willing to give up their time and risk their lives to save others.”

Spencer Oldham, Yusuf Gamiet of Jardine Marine Services, Justice Xesha of De Beers Marine, Lyall Pringle, Celeste Erwee of De Beers Marine, Cherelle Leong, Thandi Mabena of De Beers Marine and Carmen Long.

Laura Du Preez of NSRI with the De Beers team.

Geoff McGregor, NSRI East London station commander, said: “Our duty crew launched LOTTO RESCUER and on arrival on-scene found BALLYHOO parked gently aground in shallow water, at anchor, on a shallow sand bank just outside the Port with owner skipper Graham Wentworth, his wife and a crewman onboard.

“It appears that they had put the nose of the motor yacht onto a shallow sand bank to offload two passengers onto the shore but in the shallow water the motor propellors were fouled in sand damaging both gear boxes and rendering the yacht powerless.

“We rigged a tow-line and after dumping their anchor we managed to successfully pull the yacht off the sand and out of the shallow water and we towed her to Port.”

The body had been discovered by an off duty Policeman who had raised the alarm.

NSRI Hermanus volunteers towed  LE JENMAR II which was launched on scene after Police had completed forensic investigations and forensic photographs on the scene. The body of an unidentified man was recovered and brought to shore where it was handed into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services.

It is unknown the length of time that the body had been in the water and the circumstances that led to the body being in the water are unknown.

Police have opened an inquest docket.

Who are … The ‘Knights of the Missing Table’ …………………… a Short Story.

The ‘Knights of the Missing Table’ are a group of Intrepid – (Mostly Table View) Locals – regulars of Doodles Restaurant in Table View. The Group was formed 8 Years ago when Five of the establishments most regular regulars, found to their dismay (horror, actually) that their favorite Beverage Resting Apparatus (Round Table) was gone! Much cursing and other forms of comment followed in a barrage that was to last for a few months – with accusations being thrown in every conceivable direction at numerous Individuals. The Doodles Round Table Society had been formed – led by the Industrious ‘Knights of the Missing Table’ (In the meantime the first T-Shirts had been printed)
Then…………………….Lo and behold! The Table mysteriously re-appeared one Sunday. This was of course followed with huge celebration by the Knights and much quaffing of their favorite tipple. These Intrepid Fellows then ‘stole’ the Table for a few weeks – renovated the said Table, put on a new top and returned it to its rightful place.
Today it stands – Engraved with the Knight’s Insignia – 24 Hours a day, 365 Days a Year, Always on ‘Tsunami Watch’, (Two Pairs of Binoculars hang above the Table) Pride of Place for all to see – and use -  if no members of the Knights are at hand ! The Table Stands in the Corner of the Main Bar at Doodles Table View.
When not at the Table, Most of the Knights can often be found Camping around the Country from The Richtersveld to Yzerfontein, Agulhas, Witsand and Beyond – but there is always back up at the Table. The Knights raise funds each year for a designated charity of their choice – and for the past two years it has been Station 18 at Melkbos. Funds are raised mostly via fines from within the Society but we are not adverse to fining anyone who dares to invade our space wherever we may be,  as long as ‘Pink Pig KOTMT’ (The Knights mobile Mascot, Bank, Fine Collector) is present. (He now even has his own Facebook Page )
In the Meantime the Knights keep on Slaying Dragons, Rescuing Damsels in Distress and generally having serious fun (Amongst Everything Else)
PRESS RELEASE
James Digby Grant
(Self Appointed) CEO and Founder Member : Knights of the Missing Table