Fire in Plett and other incidents on the West Coast

WEST COAST:Casper Frylinck, NSRI Mykonos station commander, said: At 17h02, Tuesday, 28th February, NSRI Mykonos duty crew responded to St Helena Bay, towing our sea rescue craft TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Rescue Runner which was launched on the scene, following reports of a 26 year old local man missing in the surf off-shore of Laingville, St Helena Bay.It is believed that he and two others (one being a 16 year old) may have been net fishing when the 26 year old got into difficulty and disappeared but the other two had managed to get out of the water and they raised the alarm.NSRI joined the SA Police Services in a sea and shoreline search which lasted into the night but despite an extensive search no sign of the missing man has been found.A Police Dive Unit have been activated and are continuing with an ongoing search operation in conjunction with local Police who have opened an investigation into the incident.During this call, at 17h49, NSRI Mykonos were alerted to a small open fishing boat with 4 fishermen onboard reporting fuel starvation off-shore of Dwarskersbos.We dispatched our sea rescue craft Gemini Rescuer II and on arrival on the scene we towed them to shore without incident and they required no further assistance.Then at 20h53 we were alerted of a kite-surfer suspected to be in difficulty on the Langebaan Lagoon after eye witnesses reported seeing the kite surfer floating on the lagoon while holding onto his board and his kite.We launched the sea rescue craft Spirit of Freemasonry Gemini Rescuer II and during an extensive search operation we found a kite and a board but no sign of the person.A search continued until after midnight but with no reports of anyone missing or overdue we suspect that the kite-boarder may have swum ashore and may not know that a search had been launched.NSRI continue to appeal to kite-boarders to let us know if they abandon their kite-boards and swim ashore.NSRI are continuing to monitor this situation hoping that the kite-boarder comes forward.PLETTENBERG BAY:Marc Rodgers, NSRI Plettenberg Bay station commander, said:At 16h16, Tuesday, 28th February, NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew launched the sea rescue craft Ray Farnham Rescuer to assist the skipper (a friend and supporter of NSRI) of the charter yacht Ocean Rythm to get to shore as he had received reports that his house was on fire.NSRI took the skipper to shore so that he could rush to his house, accompanied by NSRI crew who went to assist, and his passengers were also taken to shore.It then became evident that Fire and Rescue Services from Plettenberg Bay and Knysna and surrounding areas, the Eden Emergency Services and SA National Parks had activated to a bush fire raging along the N2 and all Fire Departments, the WoF (Working on Fire) helicopters and crews, SANParks, Mountain Rescue, the SA Police Services and the public were deployed to evacuate areas of the mountain range surrounding Plettenberg Bay that at one stage recorded a 7 km fire front.A change in wind direction is believed to have saved a town but houses and properties and a vast area of vegetation were raised by the fire and NSRI Plettenberg Bay crew assisted the Emergency Services with fighting the fire, delivering supplies and water to collection points for the firemen, First Aid duties, assisting to evacuate residents and animals and protecting properties and joining Mountain Rescue at a fire front to beat the fire.It appears that the fire was brought under control and Fire and Rescue Services and the Eden Disaster Risk Management and Emergency Services are continuing to deal with flare ups.TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE