Call outs for Agulhas, PE, Mykonos, East London, Plett and Hermanus:STRUISBAAI: Boat suspected to be in difficulty turns out to be a false alarm with good intentions:At 09h05 on Saturday the 20th of April the Agulhas volunteers were called out following eye-witness reports of a fishing boat suspected to be in difficulty approximately 4 nautical miles off-shore of Struisbaai.Danie Viljoen, NSRI Agulhas deputy station commander, said: 'A boat could at times be seen in the vicinity but attempts to raise the boat by VHF radio failed and it was feared that they were in some sort of difficulty.'Our duty crew launched VODACOM RESCUER VII and a search began but during a search no sign of the casualty boat could be found in the very rough seas.'A boats trailer was found at the slip-way but no contact details or owners details were on the trailer and Police were asked to assist in getting the owners details from the number plate, while we continued to search.'With the boat having now disappeared, and fearing the worst, the Overberg Disaster Management volunteered to dispatch a fixed wing aircraft (normally used as a Fire spotter plane) to join in the search.'Fortunately before the aircraft got airborne our rescue boat found the fishing boat at 11h00 but the fishermen told us that they were in no difficulty and that they were fishing.'They also confirmed that it was their trailer that was lying at the slip-way on-shore.'SAMSA (South African Maritime Safety Authority) will investigate why the boat crew were not maintaining a listening watch on the VHF emergency radio frequency (a requirement of all boats at sea) and why they do not have contact details at their trailer (a requirement of all boats at sea launched from a trailer and leaving the trailer behind at the slip-way while at sea).'
PORT ELIZABETH: 2 calls to casualty evacuate injured foreign sailors:At 08h30 on Saturday Port Elizabeth duty crew were called out to rendezvous with the bulk carrier PATRIOT SW, sailing from Cameroon to Singapore, last Port of call Cape Town, reporting a Burmese crewman onboard to be unconscious and running a fever.Justin Erasmus, NSRI Port Elizabeth deputy station commander, said: 'Accompanied by a Gaurdmed paramedic our sea rescue boat SPIRIT OF TOFT rendezvoused with the ship in the shipping lanes and the patient was found to be in a critical condition suspected at first to be suffering from Yellow Fever.'The patient, a 43 year old man from Myanmar, Burma, was transferred onto our sea rescue boat and brought to Port Elizabeth. He has been transported to hospital by Gaurdmed ambulance where he is being treated for Malaria (not Yellow Fever as at first suspected) and he remains in a critical condition.''Then at 12h00 we launched SPIRIT OF TOFT again to rendezvous with the Far East fishing trawler STD No. 1 reporting a 32 year old Vietnamese crewman onboard suffering a fractured arm.'We rendezvoused with the trawler 4.5 nautical miles off Port Elizabeth Port's breakwater and found the patient to have a crushed finger of the right hand (and not a fractured arm).'The patient was walking wounded, in a stable and satisfactory condition, and he was taken aboard our sea rescue craft and brought to Port in Port Elizabeth where the ships agent met us and then transported the patient to hospital for further treatment.'The patient is in a stable and satisfactory condition.'
WEST COAST: Unmanned life-raft found at sea:At 17h00 on Saturday Mykonos were informed that a life-raft, unmanned, was discovered floating at sea, 20 kilometers West of Langebaan, by a fishing boat.Gerard Brune, NSRI Mykonos station commander, said: 'The fishing boat crew have deflated the life-raft and are bringing it to our sea rescue base at Mykonos.'The life-raft, a 16 man life-raft, bears the name (spelling not confirmed) 'Costa Lacenta, Esta Balsa Esta, Dalrives', expiry date 07th month 2017, and last serviced in August last year.'Telkom Maritime Radio Services have been informed and attempts will be made to track down the owners to return the life-raft.'It is not suspected that the owner vessel is in any danger and it is strongly suspected that the life-raft may have fallen overboard in rough seas.'
EAST LONDON: Paddler missing turns into false alarm with good intentions:At 20h00 on Saturday East London duty crew were called out following reports from a local man that his paddling buddy had gone missing after they were separated while paddling off Yellow Sands, North of East London.Geoff McGregor, NSRI East London station commander, said: 'Our sea rescue vehicle was dispatched to investigate, in heavy rainfall, and during a brief search the man's paddling buddy was found asleep in their vehicle.'It appears that he had returned to the vehicle and fallen asleep after they were separated while paddling and when his friend returned to shore he raised the alarm, fearing his paddling buddy was lost at sea, not realizing that he was actually already safe at their vehicle.'
HERMANUS:At 15h00 on Sunday Hermanus volunteers were called out following reports of a body found floating in the water at the Botrivier Lagoon, Fisherhaven. SA Police Services also responded.Deon Langenhoven, NSRI Hermanus deputy station commander, said: 'Our duty crew towed LE JENMAR II, which was launched on-scene and the body of an unidentified man was recovered from the water and handed into the care of the Police.'It was not immediately determined for how long the body had been in the lagoon.'Police have opened an inquest docket .'
PLETTENBERG BAY:At 13h00 on Sunday the 21st of April Plettenberg Bay volunteers were called out following reports of three people swept off rocks by a wave at The Island, Robberg Nature Reserve. WC Government Health EMS were also activated.Laurent Eray, NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty coxswain, said:' Our duty crew launched LEONARD SMITH and a team of volunteers in their private vehicles also responded to the Robberg Nature Reserve to assist.'On arrival on-scene we found that off duty Mountain Rescue volunteer James Stewart, who had been jogging in the vicinity at the time, had also stopped to assist.'The three people, 2 women and a man, who were washed off rocks by a wave, had managed to get back to shore without assistance. One of them, a 23 year old woman, from Kwa-Zulu Natal, who is a student studying in Plettenberg Bay, had sustained serious lacerations, abrasions and bruising to her left ankle and to her right thigh reportedly caused when she was swept off the rocks by a wave. The other two were not injured.''Our NSRI medics and Mountain Rescue's James Stewart treated her on-scene and she was secured onto a trauma board and loaded onto our sea rescue craft at Agter Straat beach. Accompanied by her two fellow hikers, she brought to our sea rescue base in Plett where Dr. Donald, and WC Government Health EMS paramedics, and MedLife private ambulance service paramedics continued with treatment. She has been transported to hospital by ambulance in a serious but stable condition.'It is believed doctors may operate.'
Leonard Smith arrives back from the call with the patient aboard.
Plett volunteers carry the young woman to the rescue base.
