RESCUE OPERATIONS / 11 AUGUST 2013

Rescue operations for Richards Bay, Wilderness, Knysna and Melkbosstrand:

National – Sunday, 11th August, 2013. Numerous sea rescue operations - Richards Bay, Wilderness, Knysna and Melkbosstrand:RICHARDS BAY:On Thursday the 8th of August NSRI Richards Bay duty crew were called out following an urgent request for assistance from a 42 foot yacht reporting to be running aground between Amathikulu and Zini, South of Richards Bay.NSRI Richards Bay responded by boat and by road and KZN Wildlife rangers responded.On arrival on-scene the yacht was found on the beach in the surf and the man and woman onboard were safe.At high tide the yacht was pulled off the beach by NSRI Richards Bay sea rescue craft and towed to Richards bay.The couple were reportedly sailing from Durban to Maputo when they ran aground early on Thursday morning.Pictures are available on Sea Rescue's Flickr page.

The 42 foot yacht, Lundi Star was aground between Amathikulu and Zini, South of Richards Bay. At high tide the yacht was pulled off the beach by NSRI Richards Bay. Pictuer Brynn Gericke.

Lundi Star when she was aground between Amathikulu and Zini, South of Richards Bay. Brynn Gericke.WILDERNESS:NSRI Wilderness duty crew launched a sea rescue craft yesterday (Saturday, 10th August) at 10h10 following reports from fishermen at Ballots Bay of a body seen washed up on rocks.They could not reach the body due to rough seas and the Red Cross AMS Skymed 2 helicopter was called in to assist.The body of a man was recovered by Skymed 2 and handed into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services and Police.It is suspected that this may be the body of a fisherman that went missing and was presumed to have drowned on the 25th July off Thembalethu, near George, after being swept off the rocks.Police are investigating.KNYSNA:NSRI Knysna are continuing to assist at the KIANI SATU ship that ran aground near Buffels Bay on Friday 09th August.NSRI Knysna's role is to provide on scene safety stand-by while salvage operations progress and sea rescue craft and sea rescue volunteers from NSRI Knysna will remain involved and on-scene for safety until they are released by SAMSA (South African Maritime safety Authority). NSRI sea rescue craft are launched each time helicopters come in to conduct hoisting operations at the ship.NSRI will not be giving updates on the progress of the salvage operation as this is under the command of SAMSA.Graeme Harding, NSRI Knysna station commander, said: 'After being released from safety stand-by at the ship at 19h00 on Saturday evening (10th August) we were requested to check on safety at a party being conducted at the Buffalo Bay caravan park (a party that is part of a surfing competition being held in the area at the moment) and while doing a routine safety check a fire dancer, a man estimated to be aged in his late 30's, caught alight while doing his act and our NSRI medics treated him for 1st and 2nd degree burns on his head and an ER24 ambulance transported the man to hospital in a serious but stable condition.'Following that incident we were then called following reports of two women and a child being swept down the Goukamma River. Our NSRI rescue crew initiated a search and Police divers were also activated. Just after 21h00 we located the two women and the child on the other side of the river, at the river mouth. They were safely ashore and we called out to them to stay where they were while we drove around to their side of the river. On arrival we treated them for mild hypothermia, a 29 year old woman, a 27 year old woman and the 3 year old daughter of the one lady.''They were brought to safety.'Today, Sunday 11th August, our Knysna sea rescue crews have returned to conduct a routine safety stand-by at the KIANI SATU ship.MELKBOSSTRAND:At 16h50 yesterday (Saturday, 10th August) while NSRI Melkbosstrand duty crew were conducting routine fitness training they were called to assist at a rubber-duck that capsized 150 meters off-shore of Melkbosstrand.NSRI Melkbosstrand sea rescue craft happened to be less than a minute away from where the incident happened and they were quickly 'on-scene'.On arrival on-scene 2 men, aged 28 and 30, and a woman, 25, all from Melkbosstrand, were rescued and brought to shore and treated for mild hypothermia.NSRI Melkbosstrand then returned to the scene and recovered their casualty boat.They had no safety equipment and were not wearing life-jackets and the close proximity of the NSRI Melkbosstrand sea rescue craft at the time played a vital role in the success of this rescue operation.The casualties have been advised on what safety equipment they should carry as standard equipment and to wear their life-jackets at all times while on water.