SODWANA:On Saturday, 29th December, during the late morning, a boat with 5 crew onboard capsized off-shore between the lighthouse and Jessa Point. It is believed all 5 crew were assisted ashore by local dive charter boats and private boats. Isimangaliso Wetland staff responded and confirmed all 5 crew were safely ashore and not injured and the casualty boat was recovered.WILDERNESS:Mike Vonk, NSRI Wilderness deputy station commander, said:
On Saturday, 29 December, at 17h24 NSRI Station 23 Wilderness duty crew were activated by lifeguards at Victoria Bay reporting a child drowning in progress.On arrival on the scene Sea Rescue medics found a 7-year old boy from George who had been rescued by the lifeguards unconscious after reportedly being submerged in the surf had regained consciousness and a paramedic from George Fire and Rescue Services who was first on scene had started assessing the child for non-fatal drowning symptoms. We were joined by a Western Cape Government EMS rescue technician, an EMS Advanced Life Support paramedic and an Western Cape Government Health ambulance. Medical oxygen was administered and his was transferred to George Regional Hospital by EMS ambulance in a stable condition. He is expected to make a full recovery.The lifeguards at Victoria Bay are commended for their vigilance and swift response which helped to save the boy’s life.On Sunday, 30th December, at 10h38 NSRI Station 23 Wilderness duty crew were activated to assist George Fire and Rescue Services and WC Government Health EMS responding to a sand dune in Wilderness along the shoreline where a paraglider had collided into the near vertical cliff face of the sand dune.Residents above the sand dune had raised the alarm.A tourist from Potchefstroom, Henrietta Boonzaaier, was on the beach at the time and concerned for the paraglider. She had written her cellphone number in large font on the beach. The 59 year old German paraglider had seen the phone number written in the sand and he called Henrietta on her cellphone. On NSRI's arrival on the scene, we were not immediately able to reach the paraglider but we were able to talk to him thanks to the efforts and the quick thinking of Henrietta.He confirmed he had an ankle injury and he was advised to stay where he was until help arrived.Access to the paraglider could not be reached by land. The EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter was activated and used a resident's lawn as a landing zone.An EMS technical rescue technician was deployed to the paraglider by the Skymed rescue helicopter and the casualty was hoisted into the helicopter. He has been transported to hospital where, following treatment to an ankle injury, he was released.The residents are commended for giving access to the rescue team through their gardens and the resident who gave up his back lawn as a landing zone for the helicopter.ZANDVLEI - MUIZENBERG:Vaughn Seconds, NSRI Strandfontein station commander, said:At 15h45, Sunday, 30th December, NSRI Strandfontein were activated to eye-witness reports of a man who had fallen out of a canoe and disappeared under water.NSRI Strandfontein dispatched a sea rescue vehicle towing the sea rescue craft Film Industry Fund Rescuer 1, City of Cape Town Law Enforcement, Western Cape Government Health EMS and EMS rescue squad, CoCT Fire and Rescue Services, DRM (Disaster Risk Management), the SA Police Services, ER24 ambulance services, local neighbourhood watch, a Police Dive Unit and the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter responded.On arrival on the scene a search commenced for an unidentified adult male reported by eye-witnesses to have fallen out of a paddle-ski before disappearing under water.A sea rescue jet-ski and a Fire and Rescue services dive unit jet-ski were launched.NSRI rescue swimmers, Police divers and Fire and Rescue Services rescue divers conducted sweeping line free dive coordinated search efforts and Police divers and Fire and rescue Services rescue divers conducted a scuba dive search but despite an extensive air, water and shoreline search no sign of a 45 year old man, confirmed to be the missing man by family who have come forward, has been located and Police divers, Fire and Rescue Services dive unit and NSRI Strandfontein are continuing in an ongoing search and recovery operation.The paddle-ski has been recovered.Police are investigating.
