VAAL DAM:Jake Manten, NSRI Vaal Dam station commander, said:At 16h20 on Wednesday, 25 March, NSRI Vaal Dam duty crew were activated by a local eye-witness reporting a vessel taking on water at Groot Island after it appeared waves had crashed over the stern of the boat causing her to submerge under water.We launched our rescue craft Harvey’s Fibreglass and on arrival on the scene it was confirmed that the vessel had sunk after taking on water from waves over the stern.The occupants of the vessel, a family taking opportunity of the day before the Covid19 lockdown, were taken by fellow craft to the slip to fetch their trailer.Our rescue craft rigged a tow line and towed the sunken vessel back to our base where the owner arranged to collect her.The crew were not injured and no further assistance was required.NSRI returned to base at 17h30.
HERMANUS:Jean Le Roux, NSRI Hermanus duty coxswain, said:At 17h26, Wednesday, 25 March, NSRI Hermanus duty crew were activated following reports of a kite-surfer appearing to be in difficulty on the Klein Rivier Lagoon, Hermanus.Our sea rescue vehicle responded and the sea rescue craft Maritimus was towed to the lagoon and launched while investigations continued.Concerned family were located at the lagoon.During a shoreline and lagoon search a public member contacted NSRI confirming that a 22 year old man, from Voelklip, was located walking along the shoreline and he was confirmed to be the kite-boarder and reporting that he had swum ashore after losing the kite-board before the wind swept the kite-board and the kite away from him.The man was not injured and he was reunited with his family. They will attempt to find the kite and board at a later stage.
PORT ELIZABETH:Justin Erasmus, NSRI Port Elizabeth station commander, said:At 17h00, Wednesday, 25th March, NSRI Port Elizabeth duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) to prepare to patient evacuate a 55 year old Chinese crewman suffering a medical complaint off a bulk carrier approaching Port Elizabeth.Our sea rescue craft Spirit of Toft, accompanied by EC Government Health EMS rescue paramedics, departed at 19h55 after all health protocols and regulations were met and we rendezvoused with the ship 8 nautical miles off-shore.2 NSRI rescue crew, extrication technicians, and an EMS rescue paramedic boarded the ship.The patient was transferred onto our sea rescue craft and brought to shore in the care of the EMS paramedics and he has been transported to hospital by an EMS ambulance in a stable condition.NSRI Emergency Operations Centre, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, WC Government Health EMS, Transnet Port Health Authorities and Transnet National Ports Authority assisted the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in coordination, communication and logistics during the operation.The operation completed at 22h22.
TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONEWe appeal to everyone to go to https://www.nsri.org.za/funding/donate/ and to make a donation – however small — to help keep us afloat. We need to ensure that we can continue to respond to emergencies at sea and on inland waters and in our support to land based emergency services during the Covid19 Pandemic.
