Southern Cape Shark Alert and Patient evacuation off a motor vessel, Mossel Bay

Southern Cape Shark Alert

The NSRI is appealing to surfers, paddlers and bathers along the Southern Cape coastline, particularly at Buffels Bay, but also along the Southern Cape coastline between Mossel Bay and Tsitsikamma, to be cautious following a whale carcass that remains at the Wild Side of Buffels Bay in shallow surf.The whale carcass has not been able to be removed and is attracting noticeable increased shark activity in the area and caution is advised.Patient Evacuation off vessel in Mossel Bay A patient was evacuated off a vessel in Mossel Bay on Thursday and is in a stable condition.Station 15, Station Commander Andre Fraser said:At 10h35, Thursday, 20 August, NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew launched the sea rescue craft Rescue 15 to rendezvous with a motor vessel off-shore of Mossel Bay to patient evacuate a Filipino adult crewman suffering an injury.Arrangements had been made the evening before for the patient evacuation operation to take place on Thursday morning.On arrival at the vessel, 1 nautical mile off-shore of Mossel Bay harbour, the patient was taken into our care and transferred onto our sea rescue craft.In a stable condition and walking wounded the patient was brought to our sea rescue station onboard Rescue 15 and the ships agent transported the patient to hospital.All Covid-19 precautions and protocols were observed during the operation.NSRI Emergency Operations Centre, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, WC Government Health EMS, NSRI Mossel Bay duty controllers, the ships agent, Transnet National Ports Authority and the Port Health Authority, assisted Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in communications, coordination and logistics during the operation.-ENDS- The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is the charity organisation that saves lives on South African waters – both coastal and inland. Our goal is to prevent drowning through rescue operations, education and prevention initiatives.Operating from base stations along the SA coastline, and on inland dams, our rescue volunteers are on call, at all hours, every day of the year. Our rescue crew receives no payment and neither do we charge the people we rescue.We visit schools around the country, teaching children about water safety. Our drowning prevention measures include our online training academy, with free courses for crew and the public, emergency signage, Pink Rescue Buoys for emergency flotation, rescue swimmers, lifeguards, and active patrols during peak seasons.Our organisation is totally reliant on donations and sponsorships. This enables us to do the work of saving lives, changing lives, and creating futures.You can do your bit to assist. Please visit www.nsri.org.za for more information.SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY: 112 or 087 094 9774Released by:Craig LambinonSEA RESCUE COMMUNICATIONSEmail: communications@searescue.org.za | Cell: +27 (0) 82 380 3800 | www.searescue.org.za