3 incidents in and around Cape Town - Tuesday 22nd September

NSRI stations in Kommetjie, Yzerfontein and Hout Bay responded swiftly to three separate incidents on Tuesday successfully preventing 2 fishing boats and a yacht from running aground.

STATION 26, KOMMETJIE:

Ian Klopper, NSRI Kommetjie station commander, said:

At 10h50, Tuesday, 22 September, NSRI Kommetjie duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from a local fishing boat with 3 local fishermen onboard reporting gearbox failure off-shore of Scarborough.

The sea rescue craft Spirit of the Vines was launched and on arrival on the scene a towline was rigged and the boat with all 3 fishermen onboard was towed to Soetwater without incident.

The casualty boat was recovered and no further assistance was required.

STATION 34, YZERFONTEIN:

Graeme Harding, NSRI training manager, said:

At 15h04, Tuesday, 22 September, NSRI Yzerfontein duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from a local fishing boat with 5 local crewmen onboard reporting engine failure, half a nautical mile South of Dassen Island and drifting towards Dassen Island at at risk of running aground.

The fishermen were requested to drop anchor to slow down their drift towards Dassen Island and the sea rescue craft Sonia was launched followed shortly by the sea rescue craft Rotary Onwards.

On our sea rescue craft Sonia arriving on the scene a towline was rigged and Sonia held the casualty craft in position preventing her from drifying any further.

The sea rescue craft Rotary Onwards arrived on the scene and took over the towline.

The casualty fishing boat was towed to Yzerfontein harbour without incident and no further assistance was required.

STATION 8, HOUT BAY:

Geoff Stevens, NSRI Hout Bay station commander, said:

At 18h14, Tuesday, 22 September, NSRI Hout Bay duty crew were activated following an urgent request for assistance from a local yacht reporting a rope entangled in the yacht's motor propellor and the yacht drifting towards rocks with a local solo sailor onboard 20 to 30 meters off-shore of Fish on the Rocks, Hout Bay.

The sea rescue craft Albie Matthews was launched and on arrival on the scene a towline was rigged and the yacht was towed towards Hout Bay harbour.

Just outside of the harbour we rafted the sea rescue craft alongside the yacht and she was brought safely to a berth at Hout Bay Yacht Club without incident and no further assistance was required.

-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 9774

Released by:

Craig Lambinon

SEA RESCUE COMMUNICATIONS

Email: communications@searescue.org.za | Cell: +27 (0) 82 380 3800 | www.searescue.org.za