Quentin Power, NSRI Ballito station commander, said:At 10h00, Tuesday, 18 June, NSRI Ballito duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from 2 men reporting to be experiencing motor failure on a jet ski half a nautical mile off-shore of Westbrook Beach after launching earlier at Umdloti Beach.Our sea rescue craft Yamaha Waverunner was towed to the scene and on arrival on the scene, due to a shallow water ankle deep sandbank stretching to the backline an NSRI rescue swimmer waded through the shallow water to establish communication with the 2 casualties who were a further 200 meters beyond the backline and to assess the extent of the problem.The 2 men confirmed to be in no imminent danger but needing assistance to get to shore and the cause of motor failure may have been from recent storm related debris or a foreign object, floating in the ocean, fouling the jet pump causing a cooling system blockage.Our Yamaha Waverunner launched and on arrival on scene both men were transferred onto our sea rescue craft and taken ashore and NSRI returned to the casualty jet-ski and a tow line was rigged and we towed the casualty jet-ski ashore where, assisted by a member of Tongaat Ski-boat Club, the jet-ski was recovered and no further assistance was required.We commend the casualty crew for their timeous call for assistance and for their measured approach to their emergency they were facing.NSRI urge caution around the coastline when heavy rain and flooding may cause debris to be washed into the sea increasing the risk of striking a floating object when your craft is underway or where plastic and debris in the water may increase the risk of motor damage.
TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE
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