Incidents at Witsand, Jeffreys Bay and Melkbosstrand

WITSAND:At 15h00 on Saturday the 3rd of January, NSRI Witsand duty crew were activated to go to the assistance of a local 38 year old male suffering a laceration to his head after bumping into his boats motor while surfacing from a dive, just behind the surf line at the Lighthouse, Witsand.He was patched up by NSRI medics and transported to a doctor for further treatment. JEFFREYS BAY:At 16h00 on Sunday the 4th of January, NSRI Jeffreys Bay duty crew were alerted by a Uitenhage family of a 59 year old female family member who wass visiting them from Port Shepstone and missing in the area after going for a walk.The family were visiting Jeffreys Bay and their family member had wandered off at around 11 a.m. but had not returned and they appealed to NSRI Jeffreys Bay for assistance to find her.A sea rescue craft, already on the water conducting a routine exercise and a sea rescue quad bike initiated a search along Main Beach and the female was found at 16h20 wandering on the beach disorientated and dehydrated but otherwise unharmed and she has been reunited with family. MELKBOSSTRAND:At 18h00 on Sunday the 4th of January, NSRI Melkbosstrand were alerted to reports of a drowning in progress in the surf at Kleinezoute river, Melkbosstrand.It appears that two females, cousins, were caught in rip currents while swimming in the surf. One of the girls managed to get to shore and ran for help.An NSRI Melkbosstrand rescue swimmer, Bruce Sandman, was in the area at the time and he heard the screams for help and ran into the water and swam after the 19 year old female caught in rip currents while the NSRI Melkbosstrand duty crew were activated.A surfer, surfing nearby at the time, also went to her assistance. 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 (SMS charged at R1)The teenager was rescued from the surf and was taken home but she did not require medical treatment.