NSRI assists spearfisherman, kayak fishermen, hiker and numerous reports of fatal and non fatal drownings

KALK BAY:At 07h45, Saturday, 06 January, Cape Medical Response (CMR) were activated to respond to Kalk Bay harbour following reports of CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) efforts being performed on a 63 year old male from Mitchell's Plein, pulled from the water by a bystander. The SA Police Services, Law Enforcement, NSRI Strandfontein and Police divers also responded.Following extensive CPR efforts the man was sadly declared deceased and Police have opened an inquest docket and the body of the deceased man has been taken into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services.RICHARDS BAY:At 07h00, Saturday, 06 January, NSRI Richards Bay duty crew were activated following reports of a fishing ski taking on water in front of the caravan park. The sea rescue craft Spirit of Round Table II was launched and on arrival on the scene we found one man in difficulty on his fishing ski and one man standing by on his fishing ski to assist. The casualty fishing ski was submerged from water intake and both the adult male and his fishing ski were taken onboard our sea rescue craft.The second paddler, although not in difficulty, was taken onboard our sea rescue craft and both were brought safely to shore without inident.In separate incidents NSRI Richards Bay have been informed by lifeguards of a 39 year old male deceased and a 60 year old male is reported to be in a critical condition following a drowning accident at Alkanstrand.Reports have also been received of a fatal drowning at Tugela this morning.Reports have also been received of a fatal drowning at Pelican Island Bay, Richards Bay, on Friday, 05th January, where a 17 year old female was located and recovered from the water by lifeguards who had been summoned to the scene by a friend of the teenager. Despite extensive CPR efforts by ICE Medical Services the female was sadly declared deceased.ST FRANCIS BAY:At 13h40, Saturday, 06th January, NSRI St Francis Bay duty crew responded to Sunset Rocks where 2 spearfishermen were reported to be in difficulty. Realising they were in difficulty in the water while spearfishing the men had dropped their weight belts to assist them to reach a rocky outcrop close off-shore.On arrival on the scene NSRI rescue swimmers reached them on an island area close off-shore. One of the spearfishermen was found to be semi-conscious and suffering from non-fatal drowning symptoms and the patient was stabilised by the NSRI rescue swimmers. He was then brought to mainland through the surf by NSRI rescue swimmers and he has been transported to hospital in a stable condition by Private Care ambulance services.PLETTENBERG BAY:At 15h40, NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew and the Mountain Club of South Africa (MCSA) - Southern Cape responded to the coastline at Groot River where a 21 year old young woman, on a hike with 3 friends, suffered a suspected fractured ankle.The sea rescue craft Free Runner and Ray Farnham Rescuer were launched. MCSA dispatched crew to begin driving towards the scene over rough terrain using 4x4 vehicles and ambulances were alerted to stand-by near to the scene. NSRI rescue swimmers were deployed along the shoreline and reached the casualty and NSRI medics medically stabilised the patient.Following her being medically stabilised she was loaded onto the sea rescue jet-ski Free Runner and taken out to sea and then transferred to the sea rescue craft Ray Farnham at sea and she was brought to the sea rescue base in Plettenberg Bay and she has been transported to hospital by Medlife ambulance services.TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE