At 14h35, Thursday the 26th of December, NSRI Strandfontein volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated to respond to support WP Surf Lifesaving lifeguards who had launched a rescue for at least 6 children being swept out to sea at Sunrise Beach near to Muizenberg.NSRI Strandfontein volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched two sea rescue craft and a sea rescue vehicle, Law Enforcement, WC Government Health EMS, the SA Police Services and the City of Cape Town Disaster Risk Management officers responded. Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services dive unit and a Police dive unit were placed on alert.On arrival on-scene a 14 year old male, from Capricorn Park, who had been rescued from the surf by lifeguards, was treated for near drowning symptoms by EMS paramedics and transported to hospital in a stable condition for observation for secondary drowning.A further three teenagers who had been assisted from the water by lifeguards were not injured and it remained unconfirmed if a further two children may still be missing in the surf.An extensive search continued with sea rescue craft, lifeguards, Law Enforcement and NSRI shore patrols, but with no one coming forward to confirm that anyone remained missing or overdue and with no signs of anyone who witnessed any further persons in difficulty, it appears that the two remaining children got out of the water without assistance.While on the scene lifeguards attended to another near drowning accident at the same beach and that 14 year old boy from Delft was treated on the scene by EMS paramedics and transported to hospital in a stable condition for observation for secondary drowning.NSRI Simonstown, who had assisted NSRI Strandfontein at Sunrise beach, responded to Seaforth beach following reports of a drowning in progress.On arrival on-scene a 15 year old girl and an 18 year old boy were found on the beach both suffering near drowning symptoms.It appears that the young girl had been swept out to sea by rip currents and the young man had gone into the water and successfully rescued her.CMR (Cape Medical Response) and WC Government Health EMS were on the scene and paramedics treated both patients for near drowning symptoms before they were both transported, in stable conditions, to hospital by EMS ambulance for observation for secondary drowning.NSRI Simonstown, CMR and Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services then responded to Kalk Bay harbour where a 47 year old man, from Bonteheuwel, suffered a head injury after reportedly being pushed off the harbour wall.The man was treated on the scene, loaded onto the sea rescue craft EDDIE BEAUMONT and brought to the waiting CMR ambulance in Kalk Bay harbor and he has been transported to hospital in a serious but stable condition.NSRI Simonstown then responded aboard EDDIE BEAUMONT to Roman Rock Lighthouse to assist the 38 foot yacht CHRYSTAL SPRAY that had suffered mechanical motor failure, with 4 men onboard. NSRI Simonstown have towed them safely to Simonstown harbour without incident in very calm sea conditions.
