Assistance to emergency services - Swellendam. Yacht anchored close to shore investigated - Pumula:

SWELLENDAM:Reinard Geldenhuys, NSRI Agulhas station commander, said:At 20h30, Saturday, 27th January, Overberg Fire and Rescue Services requested the assistance of NSRI Agulhas at a swift water incident on the Buffeljachs River near to Swellendam.A motor vehicle with two occupants had been washed off a bridge.An NSRI rescue swimmer team were immediately dispatched and while en-route it was reported that WC Government Health EMS rescue squad and Fire personnel on the scene had manage to rescue one person, a male, from the vehicle and bringing him to safety.On NSRI's arrival on the scene scene it remained unclear whether the second person was still trapped in the motor vehicle which was downstream and surrounded by rapidly flowing flood waters.The fast flowing river made it too dangerous to physically enter the water.While preparing to set up a safety system further downstream the police reported that the second occupant of the vehicle, a male, was found on the opposite embankment and he was safe.He had apparently been washed out of the vehicle earlier and he had landed up in calmer water (an eddie) near to the riverbank.After both occupants were confirmed to be accounted for and safe no further assistance was required and we returned to base.PUMULA:Antoinette Le Roux, NSRI Shelly Beach deputy station commander, said:On Sunday, 28th January, at 09h02, following all attempts by Telkom Maritime Radio Services to make contact with a yacht close in-shore just beyond the breakers at Pumula and after no contact by VHF radio could be achieved Police Search and Rescue were keeping a close eye on the yacht as no activity onboard was seen and the reason for the yacht to be so close to shore was unknown.After still no contact could be made later our NSRI Shelly Beach duty crew launched a sea rescue craft to investigate and on arrival on the scene at the yacht Blue, sailing to Cape Town, the crew onboard confirmed to be safe, waiting on wind to continue a voyage to Cape Town and no assistance was required.TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE