MOUILLE POINT: Pat van Eyssen, NSRI Table Bay station commander, said: At 19h50, Tuesday, 12th April, NSRI Table Bay duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) following multiple reports from residents along the Atlantic sea board of a red distress flare sighted close off-shore of Mouille Point.Our sea rescue craft
Rotary Endeavor was launched and a sea rescue vehicle dispatched to Mouille Point while NSRI crew were positioned along the shoreline to spot for any additional flare sightings. Despite an extensive sea and shoreline search no sign of any persons or craft could be found to be in difficulty and boat slip way launch sites were investigated for signs of vehicles and boat trailers that may indicate a craft outstanding at sea but all investigations led nowhere.A white illuminating flare was used to light up the search area but no additional red distress flares were sighted. With no signs of any persons or craft overdue or missing, and after an extensive search that lasted well into the night, we suspended the search and continued to monitor the situation through the night but by morning (Wednesday) with still no reports of anyone missing or overdue we suspect that the red distress flare activation may have been a false alarm.Setting off red distress flares, unless in a dire life threatening emergency, is illegal. No one has come forward to explain the reasons for this red distress flare activation in the vicinity of Mouille Point last night.
EAST LONDON: Geoff McGregor, NSRI East London station commander, said: At 23h30, Tuesday, 12th April, NSRI East London duty crew were placed on alert by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) following a request for medical assistance from the livestock carrier ship
Ocean Blue A, sailing from Iraq to Cape Town, reporting a 42 year old crewman onboard suffering a suspected heart attack.The ship was nearing East London and at 03h30 (Wednesday, 13th April) NSRI East London launched the sea rescue craft
Spirit of Lotto, accompanied by an EC Government Health EMS rescue paramedic (who is also a volunteer with NSRI East London), and rendezvoused with the ship 5 nautical miles off East London in calm seas.The patient was found to be in a stable condition and suffering a suspected mild heart attack and he was taken onboard the sea rescue craft and brought to our sea rescue station in the Port of East London and he has been transported to hospital by EMS ambulance in a stable condition and the ship has carried on her voyage to Cape Town.
TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE
