RESCUE OPERATIONS / 10 JANUARY 2017

NSRI called for a dislocated shoulder, standup paddlers and a kiteboarder

PORT ELIZABETH:Justin Erasmus, NSRI Port Elizabeth deputy station commander, said:At 09h38, Monday, 09th January, NSRI Port Elizabeth duty crew launched the sea rescue craft Eikos Rescuer IV, accompanied by EC Government Health EMS rescue paramedics, to patient evacuate a 28 year old Filipino crewman, suffering a dislocated shoulder, from the container ship Value, sailing from Singapore to Brazil.We rendezvoused with the ship 7 nautical miles off-shore, in rough 2 meter sea swells and a gusting 30 knot South Westerly wind.The injured crewman was transferred onto our sea rescue craft in a chair harness and in the care of the paramedics we brought him into port and he was transported to hospital by EMS ambulance in a stable condition. MILNERTON:Pat van Eyssen, NSRI Table Bay duty coxswain, said:At 19h17, Monday, 09 January, NSRI Table Bay duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority following reports of SUP's (Stand Up Paddle boarders) appearing to be in difficulty off-shore of Milnerton in gusting South Easterly winds.The sea rescue craft Spirit of Day was launched and an extensive search commenced.After no sign of (reported to be) 3 SUP’s could be found NSRI Bakoven were activated to join NSRI Table Bay in the ongoing search but prior to the NSRI Bakoven sea rescue craft Rotarian Schipper being launched the 3 SUP paddle boarders were found by NSRI Table Bay safely ashore in Bloubergstrand.They had no idea that a search had been launched for them reporting to have been on a “downwind paddle” that they regularly launch to do when wind conditions are favourable for their sport.The three men will endeavour to let NSRI know when they launch in similar circumstances. NSRI commend the eye-witnesses, who were confident that the men looked to be in trouble, for alerting the NSRI.LANGEBAAN:Casper Frylinck, NSRI Mykonos station commander, said:At 17h50, Monday, 09th January, NSRI Mykonos duty crew were activated following reports of a kite-surfer suspected to be in difficulty in the Langebaan Lagoon.While preparing to launch our sea rescue craft we were informed that the kite-surfer was safely ashore and no further assistance was required.Then at 20h27 we were activated following reports of a SUP (Stand Up Paddle boarder) reportedly in difficulty on the Langebaan Lagoon off the Friday Island restaurant.Eye-witnesses had lost sight of the paddle boarder in the dark.We launched our sea rescue craft Gemini Rescuer II and during an extensive search operation the paddle boarder was found 300 meters off-shore of the restaurant. We found the 39 year old local man sitting on his SUP, caught by strong winds, and we took him onto our sea rescue craft and recovered his SUP and brought him to our sea rescue station.We treated him for mild hypothermia and once re-warmed he required no further assistance. spirit-of-day