DURBAN:Paul Bevis, NSRI Durban duty coxswain, said:On Friday, 13th March, at 09h25, NSRI Durban duty crew launched the sea rescue craft Alick Rennie, accompanied by Netcare 911 rescue paramedics and Durban University of Technology High Angle technicians, and rendezvoused with a bulk carrier off-shore from the Durban Port to attend to a crewman suffering a medical emergency.The rescue paramedics boarded the ship where medical treatment for the patient, in a critical condition, commenced.An SA Air Force 15 Squadron Oryx helicopter was activated and on arrival on the scene the patient was hoisted into the helicopter and airlifted to hospital in a critical condition in the care of Netcare 911 paramedics.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.
GANSBAAI:Deon Langenhoven, NSRI Hermanus station commander, said:At 17h28, Friday, 13th March, NSRI Hermanus duty crew were activated following reports from a local man reporting that he was on the shore at Franskraal, near to Gansbaai, where his 2 brothers had launched a small boat to fish and while fishing his 2 brothers, aged 59 and 64, capsized and they were in the water.Both were wearing life-jackets and a man on Kayak was attempting to help them.Our sea rescue craft Rotarian Burnett was launched and while responding to the scene their brother on the shore continued to provide updates confirming that the kayaker was using his kayak to assist them and his one brother was already safely ashore and not injured after hanging onto the back of the kayak while the kayaker paddled ashore.The kayaker was returning to the scene to assist the second brother.The kayaker reached the second man who hung onto the back of the kayak and the kayaker paddled ashore bringing the second man to shore safely and he was not injured.After both men were confirmed to be safely ashore and not injured our NSRI sea rescue craft stood down and returned to base.NSRI spoke to local man Kobus de Kok,
age 66, who assisted in the rescue using his kayak.Kobus had gone for a daily paddle and he had noticed the 2 men fishing on a small boat and on his return run he found them in the water at their capsized boat and he offered to assist.One after the other Kobus got the men to hold on to the back of his kayak and he paddled them safely ashore.NSRI commend Kobus de Kok for his actions.
LAMBERTS BAY:Matthys Koch, NSRI Lamberts Bay station commander, said:At 13h30, Friday, 13th March, NSRI Lamberts Bay duty crew were activated to assist 2 fishermen on a small fishing boat reporting engine failure approximately 3 nautical miles off-shore of Lamberts Bay in dense fog.The sea rescue craft Spirit of St Francis was launched and following a search we found the 2 fishermen safe on their boat in the vicinity approximately 3 nautical miles off-shore.A towline was rigged and we towed them to Lamberts Bay harbour without incident and once safely ashore no further assistance was required.
WITBANK:Travis Clack, NSRI Witbank station commander, said:At 13h47, Saturday, 14th March, NSRI Witbank Dam duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from a family on a a local recreational boat stranded without fuel at Goosegully near to the Witbank Yacht and Aquatic Club (WYAC), with a husband and wife and 3 children onboard.Our sea rescue craft FNB Wavescapes responded to the scene where we found them safe on the shoreline.Emergency blankets were provided to the children to keep them warm and shield them from the light rainfall and wind.We towed their boat to their mooring at their residence near to Duvha bridge and once safely ashore no further assistance was required.The operation completed at 16h25.
TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE
