WILDERNESS:Mike Vonk, NSRI Wilderness deputy station commander, said:25 December 17h23, NSRI Station 23 Wilderness were alerted by life guards on Wilderness Beach who requested assistance with 4 casualties caught in a rip-current.NSRI crew, who had based themselves at the station over this busy time to be able to respond quickly, immediately launched 4.2m Oscar’s Rescue (Rescue 23B).On arrival on the scene NSRI found that the lifeguards had rescued all the casualties from the surf and no further assistance was required.25 December 17h51 NSRI Station 23 Wilderness were alerted to a non-fatal drowning victim at Wilderness lagoon who had been rescued from the water by life guards.NSRI crew responded with Rescue 23 mobile and on arrival found the 5 year old boy from George, Luniko Matolengwe, appeared to be losing consciousness.NSRI Medics, assisted by the lifeguards, provided medical assistance and administered medical oxygen. Western Cape Government Health EMS Control activated ER24 ambulance services who responded to the scene.The child, in a stable condition, displaying non-fatal drowning symptoms, was transferred to hospital by ER24 ambulance for further medical support and he is expected to fully recover.STRUIS BAAI:Reinard Geldenhuys, NSRI Agulhas station commander, said:At 12h10, Wednesday, 26th December, NSRI Station 30 Agulhas sea rescue gator that was on beach patrol was stopped by members of the public reporting a young boy being blown out to sea on a boogie board. Our rescue swimmer together with a See en Sand lifeguard swam in after him.At the same time the 4.7m sea rescue craft IJ Rescuer IV, also on patrol close by, was vectored in and was able to pick up the boogie boarder and returned him safely to shore where no further assistance was required.At 13h20 NSRI Station 30 Agulhas received a call from the public for a pencil duck that capsized just outside Struisbaai harbour.The 4.7 m IJ Rescuer IV was launched and rendezvoused with the capsized craft that was being blown out to sea in a strong offshore wind.NSRI rescue swimmers were deployed into the water and righted the pencil duck. Both men who were on the duck when she capsized were rescued into their duck.The casualty pencil duck was taken under tow and towed to Struisbaai harbour without incident.The two men, on holiday from Gauteng, were not injured and they required no further assistance.SHELLY BEACH:Krishca Venter, NSRI Shelly Beach duty controller, said:At 11h47, Wednesday, 26th December, NSRI Station 20 Shelly Beach responded to Ramsgate Blue Lagoon following reports of a drowning in progress.The sea rescue craft Spirit of Dawn was launched and on arrival on the scene NSRI found that lifeguards had rescue 3 persons, a man, 55, a woman, 21, and a man, 29, from the surf after they were caught in rip currents. Lifeguards had all 3 casualties on their rescue rubber-duck as well as a lifeguard, aged 20, who had swum out to assist the 3 casualties in the surf.NSRI took the 3 casualties and the 1 lifeguard onto our sea rescue craft. The lifeguard rescue rubber-duck, with the remaining 2 lifeguard crew onboard, returned to the beach and the 3 casualties and the lifeguard were brought safely ashore.At 12h17, NSRI Station 20 Shelly Beach responded the sea rescue craft Spirit of Dawn to assist the commercial boat My Dear experiencing motor mechanical failure off-shore of shelly Beach.An NSRI rescue swimmer was transferred onto My Dear and 3 passengers were transferred from My Dear onto the sea rescue craft and they were brought to shore.My Dear were able to come in safely to the beach on one motor without incident.At 14h45 NSRI Station 20 Shelly Beach dispatched rescue swimmers to Mfazana Beach to join SA Police Services, Police Search and Rescue and Med-Evac ambulance services following reports of a drowning in progress.An extensive search for a 14 year old male has revealed no sign of the teenager. SA Police Services, Police Search and Rescue and Med-Evac ambulance services will continue with an ongoing search operation.PLETTENBERG BAY:Ross Badenhorst, NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty controller, said:At 12h13, Wednesday, 26th December, NSRI Station 14 Plettenberg bay dispatched the sea rescue craft Airlink Rescuer and Rescue Ray Farnham following reports of a drowning in progress at Natures Valley Beach 2.Bitou lifeguards, on duty at Natures Valley Beach 4, also responded and ER24 ambulance services were activated.Prior to NSRI arriving on the scene it was confirmed that lifeguards rescue 3 people from the water, a man, aged 52, and 2 women, aged 17 and 18.Lifeguards initiated medical treatment and they were assisted by a doctor who happened to be on the beach at the time.Our 2 sea rescue craft arrived on the scene and our NSRI medics assisted with medical care and all 3 patients have been transported to hospital by ER24 ambulance in stable conditions for treatment for non-fatal drowning symptoms.BLOUBERG:Paula Leach, NSRI Table Bay duty controller, said:At 15h31, Wednesday, 26th December, the CoCT water rescue network were activated by Law Enforcement reporting a drowning in progress on Blouberg Beach.Law Enforcement officers responded and NSRI Station 3 Table Bay sea rescue mobile, in the area at the time on patrol, responded.CoCT Fire and Rescue Services dive unit, Community Medics and WC Government Health EMS were activated and NSRI Station 18 Melkbosstrand dispatched sea rescue craft and a sea rescue vehicle.On arrival on the scene a 29 year old man who was swept out to sea by rip currents had been helped out of the water by family members and by bystanders and he was in a critical condition suffering non-fatal drowning symptoms and Law Enforcement officers and NSRI medics initiated medical treatment which was joined by paramedics and the patient was stabilised but remained in a serious condition.The patient has been airlifted to hospital in a serious but stable condition by an Airborne 24 air ambulanceJEFFREYS BAY:Rieghard Janse van Rensburg, NSRI Jeffreys Bay station commander, said:On Wednesday, 26th December, NSRI Station 37 Jeffreys Bay crew, Dean (NSRI Crew member), Michael (NSRI Coxswain & Lifeguard) and Grietjie (NSRI Coxswain & Lifeguard) were on their way back from paddling on the malibu rescue boards and patrolling at Waterkant street.Grietjie spotted a swimmer in a rip current and pointed it out when they noticed the girl waving her arms in the air.Michael jumped out of the ATV and grabbed the NSRI pink rescue bouy (witch was at the back of the ATV) and he ran into the rip current, using the strong rip current to get out to sea as fast as possible to reach the girl who was in trouble in the water.The alarm was raised and NSRI Station 37 Jeffreys Bay were activated.Michael managed to rescue the 11 year old girl, who is from Rustenberg, and he brought her safely to shore.Dean set up oxygen and, as soon as the casualty was at the shore, oxygen was administered and ambulances were called. She was checked out on the scene by medics, Private Care & EC Government Health EMS responded and she was checked out by paramedics on their arrival and she required no further assistance.
