AGULHAS:Reinard Geldenhuys, NSRI Agulhas station commander, said:At 17h05, Friday, 22nd December, NSRI Agulhas duty crew were activated following reports of a kite-boarder appearing to be in difficulty off-shore of Agulhas.The sea rescue craft Spirit of Agulhas was launched and our sea rescue vehicle responded.On arrival on the scene a male kite-boarder was found coming ashore paddling his kite board.It appears that his kite had torn while kite-boarding; he collapsed the kite before using the equipment to paddle towards the shore.We assisted him to wade through the final stretch of surf but was clearly an experienced kite-boarder, and once ashore, required no further assistance.
KNYSNA:Jerome Simonis, NSRI Knysna station commander, said:At 17h50, NSRI Knysna duty crew launched the sea rescue craft Jolen to respond to End Benches, Eastern Head, where 2 anglers were trapped on rocks, cut off from the mainland by the high tide.A deep gully between the rocks they were fishing on prevented the 2 Cape Town anglers from getting across to the mainland.On arrival on the scene our NSRI rescue swimmers were deployed from the sea rescue craft and both men and their fishing tackle were swum to our sea rescue craft and brought to shore without incident.
RICHARDS BAY:Norman Rautenbach, NSRI Richards Bay duty coxswain, said:At 17h02, Friday, 22nd December, NSRI Richards Bay duty crew and Police Search and Rescue responded to Port Dunford following reports of 2 people drowning in the surf.On arrival on the scene it was confirmed that a 20 year old local man had disappeared in the surf at around 11h00 but the incident appears to have gone unreported.No sign of the man was found in a shoreline search and Police will continue with an ongoing search operation. They have opened an investigation.At 00h54, Saturday, 23rd December, NSRI Richards Bay duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority following a distress call from a yacht reporting to be taking water and with no motor power and adrift, with 6 crew onboard, 7 nautical miles off-shore of St Lucia.The sea rescue craft Spirit of Richards Bay was launched and we rendezvoused with the yacht 30 nautical miles from Richards Bay.They were found sailing on a storm jib and the intake of water had been stemmed and their bilge pumps were coping to extricate water.One crewman had suffered crushed fingers, a middle and a ring finger reportedly crushed in a winch a few days ago, and NSRI Richards Bay had been placed on alert for that already on Thursday.The local yacht had departed from Richards Bay and they were returning to Richards Bay.The yacht was taken under tow by our sea rescue craft in calm seas and we used the opportunity of calm seas to safely race against approaching strong winds.Telkom Maritime Radio Services assisted with radio communications.During the tow effort winds picked up to 14 knots South Westerly with a 2 meter choppy swell and we arrived in Richards bay at 08h45 and the yacht has been safely berthed at the Zululand Yacht Club.The patient with the crushed fingers was seen to by Netcare 911 and ICE medical rescue paramedics and he been transported to hospital by ambulance in a stable condition.Once safely berthed no further assistance was required.
EASTERN CAPE: Sarah Smith, NSRI St Francis Bay station commander, said:At 15h30, Friday, 22nd December, an NSRI St Francis Bay crewman happened upon a serious motor vehicle accident on the N2, between St Francis Bay and Port Elizabeth, where a mini bus, with passengers being transported to Johannesburg, had rolled.Our crewman initiated medical treatment to multiple injured patients and raised the alarm.Relay EMS, EC Government Health EMS, Nelson Mandela Bay Fire and Rescue Services, an EC Government Health EMS helicopter, the SA Police Services and Traffic Services responded.2 patients sadly succumbed to injuries and were declared deceased by paramedics. 1 patient was airlifted to hospital by the EMS helicopter in a serious condition and 8 patients were transported to various hospital by ambulances.The deceased were taken into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services and Police have opened an Inquest docket.Condolences are conveyed to family and friends of the deceased.TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE
