At 11h50, Monday, 05th January, NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew were alerted to injured passengers aboard a charter boat.The charter boat had reportedly encountered heavy swells causing some passengers to sustain minor injuries and they had come back to Plettenberg Bay where they sought assistance from NSRI.NSRI Plettenberg Bay medics treated a 5 year old female, from France, for back pain and two men, aged in their 50’s and 60’s, also suffering back pain.Medlife ambulance transported all 3 to hospital in stable conditions for further treatment and all are expected to fully recover.A further 5 passengers went by their own transport to be checked out at doctors. They had sustained minor injuries in the same incident but did not require ambulance transportation.Then at around the same time NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew launched the sea rescue craft LEONARD SMITH and AIRLINK RESCUER to go to the assistance of a 23 year old man, from Groblersdal, who had been injured while sandboarding at Robberg Island.Medlife ambulance services dispatched paramedics to assist.The patient was treated for a fractured shoulder, facial injuries and neck pain.Due to rough seas the decision was taken to not risk removing the patient from the area by sea rescue boat and the Red Cross Air Mercy Services dispatched the Skymed Rescue helicopter and the patient was airlifted to to a Knysna hospital by the Skymed helicopter in a stable condition.NSRI Plettenberg Bay encountered heavy seas while returning to base after the call and showed great seamanship while leaving Robberg Point through the surf.Then at around 12h50 NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew launched their sea rescue craft RAY FARNHAM to deliver fuel to the yacht INSHULAH, sailing from Hout Bay to Port Elizabeth, and the 3 male crew onboard required additional fuel after having problems sailing.NSRI Plettenberg Bay delivered extra fuel to them a mile off-shore and they have continued on their voyage.
NSRI are appealing to bathers to exercise extreme caution this week during the full moon Spring Tide which brings stronger than normal rip currents around the coast.
TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONESMS 32287 with your name and a message of support for our Sea Rescue crew
