PLETTENBERG BAY:Marc Rodgers, NSRI Plettenberg Bay station commander, said:At 15h25, Saturday, 29th September, NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew were activated following reports from the SA Police Services of a boat capsized in the vicinity of the Keurbooms River Mouth.The sea rescue craft Ray Farnham, Airlink Rescuer and Free Runner were launched and our NSRI rescue vehicle, the SA Police Services, WC Government Health EMS, Medlife ambulance services, PBCPA (Plettenberg Bay Community Protection Association) members responded.An ex NSRI Plettenberg Bay member also stopped at the scene to assist.On arrival on the scene at Poortjies Beach, Keurbooms River Mouth, we found a canoe with 4 people onboard. 2 adult males aged 30 and 2 male children aged 8, all from Plettenberg Bay, had capsized and we believe local fishermen were able to rescue all 4 from the water.CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) was commenced on one of the adults and breathing assistance resuscitation was commenced on one of the children who was in a critical condition.The second adult and the second child were treated for shock and non-fatal drowning symptoms.All 4 were transported to hospital but sadly after all CPR efforts were exhausted on the adult, he was declared deceased.The child remained in a critical condition in hospital in Plettenberg Bay overnight and after his condition stabilised he was transferred to a hospital in George and he remains in a serious but stable condition but doctors are confident that the child will recover.The second adult and the second child were both released from hospital following treatment for shock and treatment for non-fatal drowning symptoms.Police have opened an inquest docket.Condolences are conveyed to family and friends of the deceased man.
PLETTENBERG BAY:On Saturday, 29th September, at 14h00, while NSRI crew were at the boat club next door to our NSRI sea rescue base, they noticed a commotion on Central Beach where it appeared 2 young men were in difficulty in the surf.Our NSRI coxswain Dan Meiring ran to our rescue base and grabbed a Malibu Rescue Board. He launched into the surf and he reached both teenagers, aged 18 and 16. They were both caught in rip currents and in serious difficulty in the surf. The Malibu Rescue Board was used to keep the 2 young man afloat.Additional NSRI rescue swimmers launched into the surf and assisted Dan to get the teenagers safely to the beach.Once on the beach they were checked for non-fatal drowning symptoms as both appeared to be at the point of sinking beneath the surf when Dan reached them.Both teenager were released after being medically checked and no further assistance was required.
On Sunday, 30th September, at 14h35, NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew were activated following eye-witness reports of a drowning in progress at Robberg Beach near to the Beacon Island Hotel.NSRI rescue swimmers and an NSRI rescue ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) responded. The sea rescue craft Airlink Rescuer was launched.On arrival on the scene a 25 year old local man, who had been caught in a rip current, was found safe out the water after the rip current that he was caught in had washed him back in towards the beach and bystanders, including a 65 year local man, Andrew Olifant, had waded into shallow surf and they had managed to assist the man out of the water.Eye-witnesses confirmed that the man had been face down in the water while he was swept out and then swept back in by rip-currents.NSRI medics treated the man on the scene for non-fatal drowning symptoms and he has been transported to hospital by Medlife ambulance in a stable condition for further treatment.
// Our rescue crew are all unpaid volunteers.
