SEA RESCUE – Lamberts Bay and Port Elizabeth – Sunday, 24th August, 2014. Capsized dinghy, Lamberts Bay and sailor patient evacuated off bulk carrier, Port Elizabeth:LAMBERTS BAYOn Friday, 22nd August, at 07h00, NSRI Lamberts Bay were alerted when Nature Conservation officers raised the alarm after spotting a small fishing dinghy capsize 1 nautical mile off of Lamberts Bay on the West Coast in a 10 knot North Westerly wind and 2 to 3 meter swell with two men onboard.NSRI Lamberts Bay acting station commander, Leon deGruchy, said that quick action by the local Lamberts Bay fishing boat TRISTALEE, who were nearby at the time, rescued the two fishermen from the water after they had been thrown out the dinghy when it was capsized by a wave.It appears that the dinghy had suffered motor failure and while trying to restart the motor, it capsized. Both men, aged 55 and 45, were brought to shore aboard TRISTALEE where NSRI Lamberts Bay volunteers took them home. They were treated for mild hypothermia but otherwise were not injured and required no further assistance.The local fishing boat AHOY also assisted by hooking a towline to the capsized dinghy which they towed ashore where locals and NSRI Lamberts Bay volunteers using the Lamberts Bay sea rescue vehicle assisted to recover the dinghy. The local Lamberts Bay fishing community and the crews of the fishing boats TRISTALEE and AHOY are commended for their quick reaction.PORT ELIZABETHAt 20h10, Saturday, 23rd August, NSRI Port Elizabeth were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority to respond to the bulk carrier BIRCH III, lying at anchorage 9 nautical miles off Port Elizabeth, to patient evacuate a 46 year old Filipino sailor suffering chest pains.NSRI Port Elizabeth launched the sea rescue craft SPIRIT OF TOFT accompanied by a Relay private ambulance service paramedic and on arrival on-scene the paramedic stabilised the patient who was transferred onto the sea rescue craft and brought to shore and transported to hospital by a Relay private ambulance service ambulance in a stable condition for further treatment.Sea conditions were a strong South Westerly wind and 2 to 3 meter swells.The bulk carrier BIRCH III had been in the Port of Port Elizabeth last week and she is now lying at anchor off Port Elizabeth awaiting further instructions.
