RESCUE OPERATIONS / 1 FEBRUARY 2015

Incidents in Mossel Bay and Stillbaai:

Update: 4th February 2015
During an ongoing search operation today, Wednesday, 04th February, Police located the body of a 29 year old Albertinia man who went missing in the sea on Sunday, 01st February.His body was recovered by Police divers assisted by NSRI Stillbaai volunteers and has been handed into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services.Police have opened an inquest docket.Condolences are expressed to family by all emergency services involved in this case.
UPDATE: STILBAAI - SEARCH FOR MISSING SWIMMER:

Monday, 02 February, NSRI Stilbaai launched the sea rescue craft COLORPRESS TOO to support a Police Dive Unit continuing an ongoing search for a missing 29 year old man from Albertinia who went missing yesterday in the sea at Bloukrans near Stillbaai while swimming.

No sign of the man has been found and NSRI will launch COLORPRESS TOO again tomorrow to assist Police divers in the ongoing search.

A fixed wing aircraft has been volunteered by a local man to assist in the ongoing search and will join in the search operation on Tuesday.
See original media release below.
The full moon Spring Tide is now in effect and will peak on Wednesday 04th February and the full effect of Spring Tide along the coast will last until at least Monday 8th February.
Anyone visiting the coastline will notice the high tides to be higher than normal, the low tides to be lower than normal and rip currents to be stronger than normal all brought about by this full moon Spring Tide.

Bathers and shoreline anglers are urged to be extra cautious along the coast during the duration of the full moon Spring Tide.

Western Cape – Sunday, 01 February.

STILLBAAI:

At 12h55, Sunday, 01st February, NSRI Stillbaai duty crew launched the SPIRIT OF ST FRANCIS accompanied by Police divers responding to Bloukrans, 20km East of Stillbaai, following reports that earlier a person had gone missing in the surf.

On arrival on-scene NSRI Stillbaai assisted Police divers in a search operation for a 29 year old man from Albertinia who had reportedly disappeared under water while swimming and is suspected to have been caught in a rip current.

Despite an extensive search in 2 to 3 meter breaking surf no sign of the missing man has been found.

A Police Dive Unit will continue an ongoing search operation. NSRI Stillbaai have volunteered to assist Police divers on Monday in an ongoing search operation and the sea rescue craft Colorpress Too will be launched on-scene to assist with the search on Monday.

Police have opened a missing person investigation.

MOSSEL BAY:

At 13h25, Sunday, 01 January, Mossel Bay duty crew, while conducting a stand by at the annual Dias Festival, responded to assist where 3 skydivers had landed on rocks instead of on the beach during a skydive display jump.

It appears that the skydivers aiming to land on the beach but emerging through cloud cover had landed on the rocks. No one was injured in the incident.

Another 6 skydivers taking part in the same display landed on the beach as planned.

On arrival on the scene an NSRI rescue swimmer was deployed into the water to swim onto rocks where the 3 skydivers, all from Mossel Bay Skydiving Club, had landed and the NSRI rescue swimmer found all 3 men safe and after packing their parachutes they required no further assistance.

Then at 13h30 NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew assisted an 11 year old boy who suffered an ankle injury on rocks at the Mossel Bay Yacht Club.

It appears that the youngster had been blown over rocks by a wind gust while carrying a floatation tube and sustaining an injury to his ankle suspected to be a sprained ankle.

NSRI Medics treated the child for a sprained ankle and his parents will take him to their doctor to be checked.

-ENDS-

TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE

SMS 32287 with your name and a message of support for our Sea Rescue crew

Vodacom Rescuer II - file picture.