
Lilou is towed into Richard's Bay
RICHARDS BAY: At 09h25, Saturday, 16th April, NSRI Richards Bay duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) following a request for assistance from the Catamaran Lilou, with 4 Seychelles sailors onboard, requesting assistance into Port. The 4 men, sailing from Richards Bay to Mozambique (and then home to the Seychelles) had run into heavy weather off St Lucia, North of Richards Bay, on the first leg of their voyage and the Catamaran sustained some light damage. They returned to Richards Bay to carry out repairs and with mechanical problems to their motor NSRI Richards Bay were asked to tow them into Port. Without incident the sea rescue craft Spirit of Richards Bay II rendezvoused with the casualty catamaran 3 nautical miles off-shore of the Port and towed the Catamaran to a safe berth in the Port of Richards Bay.
PORT ST JOHNS: At 15h20, Saturday, 16th April, NSRI Port st Johns were activated following reports of two men missing in the surf at Second Beach. The sea rescue craft Freemasons Way was launched and an extensive sea search for two male military members who were reported to have gone missing in the surf was conducted. The SA Police Services were activated. It appears that while swimming one man got into difficulty in the surf and according to reports a man went into the surf to attempt to assist but he too got into difficulty and eye-witnesses reported both men disappeared under water. Both men are believed to be SA National Defence Force (SANDF) members, one is from Pretoria and one is from Oudtshoorn, and they were off duty at the time from military exercises that are taking place in the area. Despite an extensive sea and shoreline search no sign of the men has been found and they are missing a feared to have drowned. An SA Air Force helicopter conducted a night search and continued a search from first light today (Sunday, 17th April), together with the SA Police Services, EC Government Health EMS, SANDF members and a Police Dive Unit and an ongoing search will continue. NSRI Port St Johns remain on alert to assist if necessary. Police are investigating and an ongoing search is being carried out.
PORT EDWARD: At 15h45, Saturday, 16th April, NSRI Port Edward were alerted by a surfer who came to the Port Edward sea rescue base to report a female appearing to be injured on Main Beach. A sea rescue vehicle dispatched to the scene and on arrival NSRI medics found lifeguards attending to a 23 year old female appearing to be suffering hypothermia and semi conscious. NSRI medics assisted to stabilise the patient who was brought to the sea rescue base where KZN Private Ambulance Services arrived on the scene. It was confirmed by paramedics that the patient was suffering hypoglycaemia and following treatment and in a stable condition she was transported to hospital by ambulance and she is expected to make a full recovery.
GANSBAAI: At 08h30, Sunday, 17th April, NSRI Hermanus duty crew were activated following reports of a rigid inflatable boat found by members of the public and which appeared to be washed ashore and unmanned at Uilen Kraal near to Gansbaai. With no reports of anyone missing or overdue NSRI Hermanus dispatched a sea rescue vehicle to investigate an on arrival on the scene no boat was found when Police confirmed that a group of men had come to collect the boat earlier and they had claimed to have capsized in the surf the day before and left the boat on the shoreline overnight before coming to collect their boat this morning. The men had confirmed to Police that no one had been injured in the incident.
TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE