SEA RESCUE – National – Monday, 10 February. Incidents:  

PLETTENBERG BAY:Ross Badenhorst, NSRI Plettenberg Bay station commander, said:At 10h18, on Monday, 10 February, NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew were activated to reports of 3 people in difficulty in the water off Beach 3 ,Natures Valley.We launched our sea rescue craft Rescue Free Runner and Rescue AirlinkWhile the sea rescue craft were responding it was confirmed that all 3 casualties were out the water, but an adult male was suffering from exhaustion and required medical attention.WC Government Health EMS were activated.On arrival on the scene our NSRI medics attended to the adult male stabilising him and he was then attended to by EMS paramedics and following treatment he required no further assistance the ambulance arrivedThe adult male, on holiday with his family from Kimberly, entered the water to assist when his 13 year old son got into difficulty in a rip current, the father also got into difficulty before the 13 year old managed to get out of the water unassisted and his 15 year old son entered the water to help his dad.All of them managed to get out of the water safely before NSRI arrived on scene.MELKBOSSTRAND:At 14h58, Monday, 10th February, NSRI Melkbosstrand duty crew were activated following eye-witness reports of a kite-boarder suspected to be swept towards Robben Island after launching at Big Bay, Bloubergstrand.Big Bay Lifesaving lifeguards launched their Rigid Inflatable Rescue craft and 2 sea rescue craft launched while shore crew scanned the ocean.No sign of the kite-boarder was found and the Robben Island Ferry and Robben Island Security were requested to keep a sharp eye.Despite a search no sign of the kite-boarder was located and with no reports of persons missing or overdue we suspect the kite-boarder returned to shore not aware that a search had been launched.DURBAN:At 22h50 on Saturday, 08 February, NSRI Durban received a call for assistance from a yacht with 4 people on board sailing from Richards Bay to Cape Town and experiencing motor mechanical failure 6 nautical miles North of Durban.NSRI Durban launched the sea rescue boat Spirit of Surfski 6 and upon reaching the yacht, in 2-3 meter swells, a tow-line was connected and the yacht towed into the Port of Durban.During the towing operation NSRI Durban launched the sea rescue craft Alick Rennie to shadow the towing effort and to assist in placing the yacht onto a mooring.Weather conditions improved during the towing operation, which was completed at 03h00 on Sunday morning and once moored safely no further assistance was required and the casualty crew will affect repairs before continuing on to Cape Town.