PHOTOS / 23 SEPTEMBER 2018

Full Moon Spring Tide alert. Man missing - Mossel Bay. False Alarm with good intentions - Mossel Bay. Sunken vehicle recovered at boat club slip-way - Richards Bay:

MOSSEL BAY:Andre Fraser, NSRI Mossel Bay station commander, said:At 15h18, Saturday, 22nd September, NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew were activated following reports of an angler swept into the sea at the Dana Baai side of Pinnacle Point, Mossel Bay.The sea rescue craft St Blaize Rescuer was launched, our NSRI rescue vehicle and the SA Police Services responded and WC Government Health EMS activated the AMS/EMS Skymed rescue helicopter.On arrival on the scene a search commenced for a 38 year old local man who was swept off rocks while fishing with 3 friends and he had disappeared in rough surf with 5 to 6 meter breaking swells and rough sea conditions.An extensive air, sea and shoreline search has revealed no sign of the missing fisherman and a Police Dive Unit have arrived on the scene to take over an ongoing search operation and Police have opened an investigation.Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the missing fisherman in this difficult time.On Thursday, 20th September, NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew launched the sea rescue craft Rescue 15 and St Blaize Rescuer following an eye-witness report of the appearance of a red distress flare activated at a boat at sea, 2 nautical miles off-shore of Dana Baai.NSRI reached the boat that had 4 crew onboard but they confirmed that they had not set off a distress flare and all of their red distress flares were intact and not used.We can confirm that this was a false alarm with good intentions.

RICHARDS BAY:Jacques Kruger, NSRI Richards Bay duty coxswain, said:Just after 09h00, Saturday, 22nd September, our NSRI Richards Bay duty crew were dispatched to assist at the Meerensee boat club where a local fisherman's vehicle had slipped into the water while they were launching their boat.No one was in the vehicle at the time.On arrival on the scene we found the casualty car completely submerged below the boat club slip-way.We used our NSRI sea rescue vehicle winch and a Meerensee club members vehicle as an anchor vehicle and our NSRI rescue swimmers went into the water to free dive to attached lines to the casualty car and we were able to pull the car out the water and once the car was out of the water no further assistance was required.NATIONAL:Full Moon Spring Tide Safety Alert:NSRI are urging the public to be cautious around the coastline from today and until after the coming weekend (27 and 28 September), as the Full Moon Spring Tide, that peaks on Tuesday, 25th September, has begun to increase in intensity as it builds towards the Spring Tide peak.The full moon Spring Tide will affect the coastline from today, peaking on 25th September, and lasting until after the weekend of the 27th, 28th September.Bathers, anglers, coastal hikers and beach strollers are urged to be cautious and to heed the safety alert and to be aware of the Spring Tide phenomenon.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.NSRI urge parents to ensure that their children have responsible adult supervision around inland and coastal waters.Spring Tide occurs at the full moon and again at the new moon and brings with it a higher than normal high tide, a lower than normal low tide and stronger than normal rip currents.

-ENDS-