Donate Shop Find a Base Call for Help Now

NSRI EMERGENCY
OPERATION CENTRE (EOC)

087 094 9774
UPDATE: Corrections from the mom of the young boy:
For the record, I would like to make a few corrections to the details above:
  • Sylvan (Kommetjie) was stuck in chest deep mud for several (+3.5) hours before anyone could physically get to him
  • His father was not able to be with us over the weekend because he had to work. It was a close family friend, Tim (Noordhoek), who very slowly and carefully made his way, via a series of 2 SUP manoeuvre’s on top of the mud, out to Sylvan so that he could get him out of the mud, keep him warm and reassure him that help was on the way.
  • After a few attempts to return, it was deemed far too risky, and the decision made to stay put until further assistance arrived.
  • if it was knee deep mud or we were able to paddle out to him in any way there would not have needed to be a rescue mission.
Original ReleaseELANDS BAY:Matthys Kog, NSRI Lamberts Bay station commander, said:At 12h49, Sunday, 21st January, NSRI Mykonos and NSRI Lamberts Bay duty crews were alerted by the SA Police Services to a father and son stuck in the mud of the Verloring Vlei on a farm near Elands Bay. NSRI Lamberts Bay dispatched a NSRI rescue vehicle.It appears that the 7 year old son rowed a canoe on a small patch of water on the drying out vlei and the canoe got stuck in mud and he climbed out of the canoe and then got stuck in knee deep mud.His Dad, 42, they are from Noordhoek, Cape Town, rowed a canoe out to his son to try to help but he also got stuck. They managed to shelter on one the canoes while calling for help.On NSRI's arrival on the scene the SA Police Services and WC Government Health EMS rescue squad were in attendance and the EMS/AMS Skymed helicopter had been activated.The father and son were winched out of the muddy vlei to dry land and reunited with family and no further assistance was required.The canoes could not be recovered. [video width='480' height='272' mp4='http://www.nsri.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/VID-20180121-WA0012.mp4'][/video]
Next Article

Dolphin rescued at Cape St Francis

Read More

You may also like

RESCUES  | Published: 17 OCTOBER 2026

Celebrating lives and saving lives as NSRI names Rescue 4 at Mykonos

A gift celebrating a couple’s wedding anniversary. A tribute to a mother who quietly supported sea rescue. A husband’s thank you to the wife who helped him through recovery. These are some of the stories carried by Rescue 4, the ...

COMPETITION  | Published: 16 OCTOBER 2026

NSRI announces second Cars4Good winner and October Monthly Giving grand prize winner

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) today announced the winner of its Monthly Giving draw and the winner of the second car in its 2026 Cars4Good competition, both held in support of the organisation's lifesaving work on South Africa's waters. ...

RESCUE OPERATIONS  | Published: 15 OCTOBER 2026

Cape Vidal 4 men assisted after their boat capsizes

Melinda Snyman, NSRI St Lucia station commander, said: Shortly after 09h00, on Thursday morning, 8 October, a local fishing vessel capsized while attempting to launch through the surf at Cape Vidal, approximately 30 kilometres North of St Lucia. A S.T.A.R.T ...