RESCUE OPERATIONS / 21 DECEMBER 2016

NSRI assists 3 paddlers in Kleinrivier Lagoon and 4 Dutch men caught in a rip at Lientjiesklip

HERMANUS:Deon Langenhoven, NSRI Hermanus station commander, said:At 18h11, Wednesday, 21st December, NSRI Hermanus duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from three paddlers on sea kayaks on the Kleinrivier Lagoon reporting to be struggling against strong Northerly winds and capsized a few times. We dispatched our sea rescue craft Jaytee III but prior to arriving on the scene we were informed that the two women and one man had made it safely to shore and they required no further assistance.WILDERNESS:Saria van As, NSRI Wilderness duty controller, said:At 16h48, Wednesday, 21st December, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated after one of our NSRI crew members witnessed what appeared to be five people being swept out to sea in the vicinity towards Lientjiesklip.Our three sea rescue craft Oscars Rescuer, Clemengold Rescuer and Die Swart Tobie, out on the water at the time conducting routine training, diverted to the scene and on our arrival we found that four men, aged in their late 20's, from The Netherlands, had been swept out to sea by rip-currents and George Municipal lifeguards had managed to rescue three of the men safely from about 200 meters off-shore and those three men and the lifeguards were safely ashore.One lifeguard remained with the fourth man, 400 meters off-shore, assisting the man to stay afloat and they were taken aboard our sea rescue craft and brought safely ashore.No one was injured.TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE