At 19h00 on Tuesday the 16th June, NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew were activated following reports from ADT Security of 3 fishermen suspected to have been swept off rocks at Keurbooms Beach, between Enrico’s Restaurant and The Arch.
NSRI Plettenberg Bay launched the sea rescue craft RAY FARNHAM and NSRI rescue swimmers responded directly to the scene.
On arrival at the Enrico’s Restaurant car park a local fisherman, in his early 20’s, reported that he was one of the 3 fishermen and that his two fellow fishermen, also locals in their early 20’s, were not swept off the rocks but were cut off from mainland by the high tide on rocks on Keurbooms Beach, between the restaurant and The Arch.
By that stage the sea rescue craft was already on the scene and illumination flares were deployed to light up the rocks and both of the fishermen were found walking along the beach and they were safe and they required no further assistance.
It appears that the 3 fishermen were cut off from mainland while fishing at around 16h30. They had decided to simply wait for the low tide to get back onto mainland but with rough sea conditions and a New Moon Spring Tide the tide came up higher than what they expected and although the high tide had already started to retreat one of the of the fishermen, the young man encountered in the car park, who is a local lifeguard, swam to the beach and found ADT Security at Enrico’s Restaurant requesting that he raise the alarm.
While NSRI were responding to the scene the tide had dropped sufficiently which allowed both men to get safely off the rocks without incident.
NSRI URGE CAUTION AROUND THE COAST. THE NEW MOON SPRING TIDE PEAKED YESTERDAY, 16th JUNE AND COUPLED WITH ROUGH SEA CONDITIONS AND BIG SEA SWELLS BROUGHT ON BY COLD FRONTS, EXTREME CAUTION IS ADVISED AROUND THE COAST UNTIL AT LEAST AFTER THE COMING WEEKEND.
Spring tide happens twice every month at full moon and again at new moon. Spring tide causes a higher than normal high tide, a lower than normal low tide and stronger than normal rip currents. Often areas not cut off by tide during the normal tides are cut off by high tide during a Spring tide.
There are two high tides and two low tides every day.
Ray Farnham being launched - file picture.
