STATION 23, Wilderness
At 09h00 NSRI Wilderness volunteers were called out for two teenagers who were caught in a rip current at the Kaaimans river mouth.
According to Wilderness duty coxswain, Garth Dominy, people at the Dolphin Point lookout site above the Kaaimans river had seen a 16 year old George girl get pulled out to sea by a strong rip current. Her friend, a 16 year old boy from Brakpan, swam to her assistance and managed to help her to shore on the Western side cliff face of the Kaaimans.
The 4,2 metre Sea Rescue boat Serendipity was launched but could not get close to the two teenagers, who were trapped on the cliff face, because of large 3,5 metre waves.
The WC Government EMS Air Mercy Service helicopter, Skymed, was dispatched from Oudtshoorn to help. An ER24 ambulance, METRO ambulance and municipal lifeguards were also on scene.
The girl, who was in a serious condition, was winched into the helicopter and flown to Wilderness beach where she was transferred to an ambulance and treated for near drowning symptoms. The boy was then fetched by the helicopter and also transfered to Wilderness beach. He was released and needed no further help but the young woman was taken to a George hospital where she will be monitored for secondary drowning.
STATION 5, Durban:
Durban NSRI duty crew were called at 7H30 this morning to assist the SAPS Search & Rescue unit to search for a 10 year old boy who went missing on the Umgeni river approximately 1.8 km upstream of the Inanda dam. The SAPS searched last night but were not able to find the boy.According to NSRI Durban station commander, Clifford Ireland, the Durban NSRI volunteers worked with the SAPS Search & Rescue dive unit using NSRI rafts in the river and recovered the boys body at 12h30.
A 10 year old boys body has been recovered form the Umgeni river.
Picture Clifford Ireland/NSRI.STATION 9, Gordons Bay
At 10h26 the Gordons Bay duty crew were called out to a fisherman who was washed off the rocks at Pringle Bay.
According to Gordons Bay station commander, Nigel Pepperell, two fisherman were laying crayfish traps about 1,5 km from Pringle Bay (on the Rooiels side) when a big wave washed the one man off the rocks. He was unable to get back to safety and his companion called for help.
The Sea Rescue boat Spirit of Surfski was towed from Gordons Bay and launched at Hangklip. The WC Government EMS Air Mercy Service helicopter was also dispatched from Cape Town International Airport. The sea conditions were very bad with a 2 to 3 metre swell. Sea Rescue volunteers conducted an intense shore search as well as from the NSRI boat and helicopter.
Visibility in the water was also very bad and after a three hour intensive search the operation was called off and handed over to the SAPS.
STATION 4, Mykonos:
At 16h02 Station 4 Mykonos were called out for a drowning in progress at Tooth Rock near Jacobsbaai ( Between Saldanha and Vredenberg) on the West Coast.
According to NSRI station commander Gerard Brune, the family of a man, who was believed to be crayfishing, called the SAPS in Saldanha to say the he had been washed of the rocks.
The NSRI Mykonos duty crew towed the rescue craft TNPA Rescuer One to Weskus Plek, near Jacobsbaai and launched there with a paramedic from SA Paramedic services on board.
A METRO ambulance and SA Paramedic Services ambulance also responded.
The fisherman’s body was found at Tooth Rock floating face down in the water and was declared dead on scene. His body was handed to the SAPS.
STATION 12 KNYSNA:
At 14H20 the Bay View Ambulance service alerted Knysna station commander Graeme Harding to a 26 year old man from Midrand Gauteng who had dislocated his left knee at Die Blokke, Brenton-on-Sea.
The Knysna NSRI volunteers were called out, but due to adverse sea conditions they were unable to get a rescue boat into the area. A stretcher party of twelve NSRI volunteers was put together and the man was carried up the long narrow path to the Brenton-on Sea parking area where a Bayview and a METRO ambulance were waiting. The man was taken to Knysna Private hospital in a stable condition to be treated for his dislocation.
STATION 14 PLETTENBERG BAY:
At 17h00 the NSRI volunteers were called out at Plettenberg Bay for a boat overturned in the river mouth.
Plettenberg Bay Station commander Deon Truter said that the 5 metre skiboat with two 50 HP engines had capsized but both men, from Port Elizabeth, were wearing life jackets and had managed to get themselves safely ashore.
The Plettenberg Bay duty crew launched Leonard Smith ( it was her first operation), Sally Joan and Airlink Rescuer and responded to the river mouth to find both men ashore. The NSRI volunteers succeeded in righting the ski boat and towed it to Central beach at 18h17 where it was handed back to the two men.
STATION 20 SHELLY BEACH:
At 16h29 Shelly Beach NSRI volunteers were called out to help the SAPS at Thurton Beach, 35 km north of Shelly Beach, search for a 17 year old local who disappeared under the water while swimming.
The NSRI volunteers towed their 4 metre rescue boat, Spirit of Le Jenmar I, and launched it on scene. After an intensive search the operation was called off at 18h45 due to bad light. The SAPS have taken over the operation and will continue the search tomorrow morning.
