Rudi Rogers, NSRI Yzerfontein station commander, said: 'At 13h50, Saturday, 27th April, NSRI Yzerfontein volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following eye-witness reports of people washed off the pier at Yzerfontein harbour.'NSRI Yzerfontein, First Choice medics, Atlantic Medical Services and the WC Government Health EMS responded.'It appears that 2 men, Julian Venter, 31, from Yzerfontein and Andries Prinsloo, 53, from Plattekloof, Cape Town, had been walking along the harbor wall when a wave swept them off the wall. They had been swept off the harbor wall and landed up in amongst the dolosse.Frankie (surname not obtained), an Yzerfontein harbour official, Wiaan Carstens, of the local Municipality and Johannes Vraagom, of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Sea Fisheries division) had gone to their assistance but were swamped by a second wave that then also washed Johannes Vraagom off the harbuor wall and into amongst the dolosse.'A crowd of bystanders of the local community had also come to assist and were dodging the waves sweeping over the wall while assisting in the rescue.'A private fishing boat and a commercial fishing boat had gone around to the sea side of the dolosse and were assisting in the rescue.'Johannes Vraagom was missing in amongst the dolosse and Julian and Andries (the two original people who were swept off the harbor wall) were trapped with injuries in amongst the dolosse.'Ropes were rigged by the community members (assisted by our NSRI Yzerfontein rescuers) and both Julian and Andries were rescued (pulled up by the ropes) onto the harbor wall and carried to safety.'Johannes was found deep in amongst the dolosse by the boats that had gone around to search and he was rescued onto one of the boats and brought into the safety of the harbor.'All 3 patients were carried, secured onto trauma boards, to our sea rescue base where paramedics treated Julian Venter for fractured ribs (on both sides of his chest), severe hypothermia, back, arm and chest bruising and abrasions, Andries Prinsloo, for back pain, a suspected spinal injury, concussion, a right eye injury and hypothermia, and Johannes Vraagom, for an ankle and a hip injury. All three were transported to hospital in serious but stable conditions by ambulance.'Frankie, the Yzerfontein harbor official, was treated for an ankle injury sustained when the wave swamped them during their attempts to help, but he did not need to be taken to hospital.'Johannes Vraagom has been released from hospital today (Sunday, 28th April), the remaining two men remain in hospital.'NSRI commend the efforts of the Yzerfontein community members who rallied together to assist in this rescue of the three men.'.....and in another incident...
Pat van Eyssen, NSRI Table Bay station commander, said: 'At 16h29, Saturday, 27th April, NSRI Table Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from the yacht IZANDLA requesting assistance to get into port at Table Bay after losing motor power in unfavorable sea conditions outside of the breakwater at the Port of Table Bay in the Granger Bay area and unable to sail the yacht to her mooring under the sea conditions present.'Our NSRI Table Bay sea rescue crew launched our sea rescue craft SPIRIT OF VODACOM and on arrival on-scene found 5 males onboard the yacht, skippered by 88 year old Harold Heneck. All 5 men onboard are Master Mariners who had been out on a sail.'A tow-line was rigged and we towed the yacht into the Granger Bay Water Club where they were safely moored and they required no further assistance.
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