National Spring Tide Safety Alert and recent rescues

NATIONAL:Safety Alert:NSRI are urging the public to be cautious around the coastline for the remainder of this weekend as the beginning phase of the 31st January Full Moon (Blue Moon) Spring Tide has begun to increase in intensity as it builds towards the Spring Tide Peak on Wednesday 31st January.The full moon Spring Tide will affect the coastline from today, peaking on Wednesday, 31st January, and lasting until after the first weekend of February.Bathers, anglers, coastal hikers and beach strollers are urged to be cautious.Bathers should only go to beaches where and when lifeguards are on duty and swim within the safe demarcated swimming zones that lifeguards post using their red and yellow flags.MOSSEL BAY:Andre Fraser, NSRI Mossel Bay station commander, said:On Wednesday evening, 24th January, NSRI Mossel Bay launched sea rescue craft following reports of an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) activation reported to MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) from the United Kingdom Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre).While the EPIRB activation was being investigated reports of suspected red distress flares sighted out at sea by eye-witnesses was investigated with the possibility of the EPIRB and the red distress flares being related.An extensive search revealed no sign of any craft or persons in distress at sea and no reports of anyone overdue or missing were reported and the EPIRB was discovered to be a test activation and after midnight we returned to base no longer required.DURBAN:Clifford Ireland, NSRI Durban station commander, said:At 11h00, Friday, 26th January, NSRI Durban duty crew were activated and the sea rescue craft Megan II was launched following reports of 4 divers overdue from a dive at Coopers Wreck.The private boat Alice, operated by an NSRI Durban coxswain, had also responded to join a search.While responding to the incident it was confirmed that all 4 divers were found safe and our sea rescue craft returned to base.ST FRANCIS BAY:Sarah Smith, NSRI St Francis Bay station commander, said:At 16h54, Friday, 26th January, NSRI St Francis Bay duty crew responded to Main Beach following reports of a drowning in progress.The sea rescue craft Spirit of St Francis II was launched and NSRI rescue swimmers responded directly to the scene.Private Care ambulance services and the SA Police services were activated.On arrival on the scene an extensive search commenced for a 12 year old male, believed to be a local, reported by eye-witnesses to have last been seen floating face down in the water after reportedly being swept out to sea by rip currents approximately 20 minutes prior to NSRI arriving on the scene.A shoreline search by NSRI crew and 7 NSRI crew and NSRI rescue swimmers deployed into the surf conducting a sweeping line free dive search in the surfline and a search conducted from the sea rescue craft in the breakers but despite the extensive search no sign of the boy has been found.Police have opened an investigation and a Police Dive Unit and K-9 Search and Rescue are continuing in an ongoing search operation.HERMANUS:Deon Langenhoven, NSRI Hermanus station commander, said:At 18h08, Friday, 26th January, NSRI Hermanus duty crew were activated following eye-witness reports of a surfer in difficulty at Kleinmond Main Beach.We launched the sea rescue craft Jaytee III and NSRI crew responded and Overberg Fire and Rescue Services and EMR ambulance service respondeds.During an extensive search it was suspected that what had been seen by eye-witnesses and giving the impression of a surfer in trouble was kelp in the surfline or a seal in the kelp in the surfline.All resources stood down.RICHARDS BAY:Norman Rautenbach, NSRI Richards Bay duty coxswain, said:At 13h58, Saturday, 27th January, NSRI Richards Bay duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress qt the Bay Hall area.NSRI duty crew, ICE ambulance service, KZN Government Health EMS, and uMhlathuze Fire and Rescue Services resonded.On arrival on the scene a local female aged approximately 27, was found out of the water and had reportedly been rescued from the water by bystanders who had initiated CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) efforts and spontaneous breathing was restored and medical treatment was continued by paramedics and the female has been transported to hospital by ambulance in a critical condition.Manie le Roux, NSRI Richards Bay duty coxswain said:At 16h10, Saturday, 27th January, NSRI Richards Bay duty crew launched the sea rescue craft Spirit of Richards Bay to assist a local man on a jet-ski suffering motor mechanical failure at Pelican Island.The casualty had deployed a red distress flare to raise the alarm and eye-witnesses reported the red distress flare sighting.On arrival on the scene the man and the jet-ski were recovered and towed without incident to the ski-boat club and no further assistance was required.TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE