LAMBERTS BAY:Christo Filander, NSRI Lamberts Bay station commander, said:17h30, Monday, 12th December, NSRI Lamberts Bay duty crew launched the sea rescue craft
Douglas Murray and dispatched a sea rescue vehicle following reports of a boat (Crayfish Bakkie - small open crayfish fishing boat) with 3 local fishermen onboard, in difficulty and washing onto rocks at Witsand, 15 nautical miles from Lamberts Bay.WC Government Health EMS and The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) officers also responded.On arrival on the scene we found the 3 men on their boat safe. Their anchor had dragged causing them to wash onto rocks in the outgoing Spring tide after their boat experienced mechanical motor failure.An NSRI rescue swimmer was dispatched into the surf and he assisted the men to recover their catch of crayfish, saving their catch, and helping the men to the shore with their quota catch for the day.Their boat was recovered and secured on shore at the high water mark and it will be recovered today, Tuesday, 13th December.The DAFF officers in attendance assisted to transport the 3 men and their catch of quota crayfish back to town.The 3 fishermen, the skipper aged 41 and his crew aged in their 20's and in their 50's, were not injured.NSRI commend the assistance of EMS and DAFF on the scene.
STRAND and GORDONS BAY:Alan Meiklejohn, NSRI Gordons Bay station commander, said:At 19h08, Monday, 12th December, NSRI Gordon's Bay duty crew were called to investigate the Strand Tidal Pool where Animal Welfare Society (AWS) officers were in attendance investigating reports of sharks and sting-rays trapped in the tidal pool at low tide.The Department of Environmental Affairs - Oceans and Coasts and Law Enforcement had also been activated.AWS counted at least 10 small cow sharks and at least 15 sting-rays in the tidal pool trapped by the low tide and unable to escape back to the sea.We are aware that this happens quite regularly but for public safety we met at the scene and, confident that the animals will escape the tidal pool at the high tide at 02h32 on the 13th December, the area was declared safe and the pool will be re-evaluated at sunrise to make sure all had left the tidal pool safely to return to sea.The rising Spring Tide (increasing in intensity as we approach full moon on the 14th December) is believed to have contributed to the sharks and sting-rays entering the tidal pool.Law Enforcement continued to monitor the situation through the night and no further assistance was required.Then a short while later a swimming pool blow up canoe with 2 adult men onboard was reportedly being swept out to sea in the off-shore winds at Gordons Bay.On arrival on the scene we found the men were able to walk back to shore in the Spring low tide and they were advised of the dangers, not wearing life jackets, a broken oar and a craft not suited to sea conditions launching along the coast in strong off-shore winds, and they took heed of the advice and required no further assistance.
Picture: Julia Evans - Animal Welfare Society (AWS)
TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE
