27 December 2012 - AGULHAS and PLETT:

STATION 30, AGULHAS

Sea Rescue volunteers from Station 30, Agulhas, were called out at 05h00 this morning ( 27 December 2012) for a drowning in front of the Struisbaai caravan park.

Reinard Geldenhuys, NSRI Agulhas station commander, said that according to a witness four men entered the sea in front of the Struisbaai caravan park in the early hours of the morning but only three came out. They disappeared before the witness could talk to them. The man saw a body of a white male with brown hair in the breaker line but a wave broke in that position and he was unable to locate it again.

NSRI Agulhas launched their two rescue boats Vodacom Rescuer VII and I&J Rescuer II as well as the Overberg Fire Department Helicopter from Bredarsdorp with two NSRI rescue swimmers on board. The SAPS dive unit was also activated. After a thorough search the helicopter and two sea rescue boats were stood down and the SAPS divers will take over the operation.

No persons have been reported missing.

Anyone with information should please contact Reinard Geldenhuys on 028 435 7777

At 08h15 this morning ( 27 December) the Plettenberg Bay NSRI volunteers were called out for a drowning in progress between the river mouths at Plettenberg Bay.

According to Plettenberg Bay NSRI station commander Deon Truter, a father and son from St Petersburg, Russia, who are on holiday at the Garden Route, got into difficulties in a rip current off what was Lookout beach. NSRI launched the rescue boats Airlink Rescuer and Sally Joan.

A bystander managed to rescue the 12 year old boy. The father, in his 40s, was taken out of the sea by our Sea Rescue volunteers. Both tourists were assessed by NSRI medics and then transported to Plettenberg Bay Mediclinic to be checked for secondary drowning.

Plettenberg Bay Airlink Rescuer. Picture Jenni Green.