SHELLY BEACH:Jeremiah Jackson, NSRI Shelly Beach station commander, said:On Sunday, 14th January, at 13h00, during a routine training exercise two of our sea rescue craft Shelly Spirit and Spirit of Dawn diverted to respond to Oslo Beach (a beach not attended by lifeguards), 3 km North of Shelly Beach, following reports of a drowning in progress.Med-Evac EMS and a Police Search and Rescue Unit also responded.On arrival on the scene Med-Evac launched their rescue craft Gods Grace to join the NSRI sea rescue craft searching for a 20 year old local man missing in the surf after appearing to be swept out to sea by rip currents while swimming with his brother and disappearing beneath the surf.Despite and extensive sea and shoreline search, in a 2 to 2.5 meter swell and breaking surf, no sign of the missing man has been found and Police Search and Rescue will continue with an ongoing search operation and Police have opened an investigation.
LANGEBAAN:Robert Fine, NSRI Langebaan duty coxswain, said:On Saturday, 13 January, NSRI Mykonos, Station 4, hosted a combined training event with NSRI Lamberts Bay, Station 24, and NSRI Yzerfontein, Station 34.The training focused on Kite rescue (sail board rescue) in routine rescue preparedness and taking into account an upcoming local Kite-Board Downwind Dash Event.A Hobie-Cat belonging to an NSRI Mykonos crew member was also provided for the training.Local 'Obsession Kiting School' kindly donated one of their instructor’s time and kites for practical training and briefed our NSRI crews through basic kite safety and rescue procedures.A theory session was run on the beach with the kites and with the Hobie-Cat and then practical training took place at sea where the crew were able to practice first hand rescue exercises of rescuing a kite surfer and recovering the kite as well as rescuing a capsized Hobie-Cat.At approximately 13h30, during the training, an NSRI Mykonos crewman, who was on the beach assisting the Obsession Kiting School Instructor to prepare a kite for the practical training, when a kite surfer nearby launched her kite and shortly after launching the safety system of the kite failed causing a kite-boarding accident. The NSRI crew member and the instructor immediately went to her assistance, securing the kite and attending to kite surfer who was injured.Two sea rescue craft responded and on arrival on the scene medical equipment and NSRI medics, with the assistance of local kite surfers, stabilised the kite surfer, a 27 year old German, who appeared to be disorientated and she was treated for a laceration to her hand. Once stabilised she was transported off the beach to an ambulance and she has been taken to hospital in a stable condition.The patient is expected to make a full recovery.NSRI would like to thank the local Kite surfers, Obsession Kitting instructor for their assistance. as well as the management of a local Wind Town who assisted with logistics as the kite surfer was a guest there.
DURBAN:Clifford Ireland, NSRI Durban station commander, said:At 09h15, Sunday, 14th January, NSRI Durban duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) following a request for assistance from a commercial fishing ski-boat, with 12 crew onboard, reporting motor mechanical failure 10 nautical miles from the Port of Durban.We launched the sea rescue craft Eikos Rescuer II and on arrival on the scene a tow-line was rigged and they were towed to port without incident and once safely in port no further assistance was required.During the operation NSRI Durban were alerted to the harbour fishing ski-boat Zaki reporting to be taking water.The skipper confirmed that he was confident he would make it back to the Fynnlands Angling Club unassisted and NSRI remained on alert until they reported to be safe at the Angling Club and no further assistance was required.
MOSSEL BAY:Andre Fraser, NSRI Mossel Bay station commander, said:At 07h45, Sunday, 14th January, while on a training paddle, an off-duty NSRI crewman overheard radio communications between Port Control and the fishing vessel Derek 1 reporting rope fouled around her motor propellor between Hartenbos and Dias Beach.NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew were alerted and we offered assistance.At first the fishing vessel reported to have private divers being arranged to assist but after the divers were not immediately available our NSRI sea rescue craft Rescue 15 responded and on arrival on the scene we deployed NSRI rescue swimmers into the water and they were able to cut the fishing line and free the motors from rope.Once all fishing line was recovered and their motors were useable no further assistance was required.
Pic: NSRI rescue swimmers assisting in the water at the casualty Fishing Vessel.
-ENDS- TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE
