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MELKBOSSTRAND:Stewart Seini, NSRI Melkbosstrand Surf Lifesaving Unit squad leader, said:On Sunday afternoon, 18th March, NSRI Melkbosstrand Surf Lifesaving Unit lifeguards and Big Bay Pro Surf Lifesaving lifeguards were alerted to a man on a small inflatable dinghy in difficulty in the surf at Melkbosstrand.2 of our NSRI Melkbosstrand Surf Lifesaving lifeguards and a Big Bay Surf Lifesaving Pro lifeguard launched into the surf and assisted a 38 year old man, from Atlantis, who had been swept out to sea by a combination of strong rip currents and by the wind, to get safely back to shore.The man was found in chest deep water, he was trying to get back to shore while swimming and pulling the dinghy along behind him, hampered by a rip current he was in, when the lifeguards reached him.The man was not injured and he was cautioned about the dangers of launching the dinghy, normally intended for a swimming pool, into the sea because winds can sweep it away.No further assistance was required.
JEFFREYS BAY:Rieghard Janse van Rensburg, NSRI Jeffreys Bay station commander, said:At 18h06, Sunday, 18th March, NSRI Jeffreys Bay duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Albatros Beach, Jeffreys Bay.Our sea rescue craft Eddie Beaumont II was in the area at the time on a routine exercise and they diverted to respond and our NSRI rescue vehicle and Private Care ambulance services responded.On our sea rescue craft arrival on the scene an 18 year old woman was found in a rip current about 80 meters off-shore.2 NSRI rescue swimmers were deployed into the surf from the sea rescue craft and they secured the teenager and she was assisted to shore and taken into the care of paramedics.During the rescue a surfer paddled out to the scene to alert NSRI that another two people. A bystander had launched into the surf to assist but then got caught in rip currents himself. A second woman appeared to also be caught in the same rip current. Both the man and woman reached the shore safely and they were not injured.The rescued teenager is from Benoni and she has been transported to hospital in a stable condition by ambulance, with her mother, for treatment for non-fatal drowning symptoms. She is expected to fully recover.
LANGEBAAN:Mike Shaw, NSRI Mykonos duty controller, said:At 16h03, Sunday, 18th March, NSRI Mykonos duty crew launched the sea rescue craft Spirit of Surfski 5 to go to the assistance of 3 local men on a 6 meter ski-boat with battery power failure off-shore South of Vondeling Island.On arrival on the scene a towline was rigged and we towed them to Mykonos Marina without incident and no further assistance was required.