SEA RESCUE – NSRI
The following NSRI Stations responded to incidents around the country over the past weekend:
STATION 26, Kommetjie. STATION 8, Hout Bay. STATION 10, Simonstown. STATION 4, Mykonos. STATION 5, Durban. STATION 1, Headquarters. STATION 2, Bakoven. STATION 3, Table Bay. STATION 35, Witbank.
KOMMETJIE: Ian Klopper, NSRI Kommetjie station commander, said:
At 11h10, Saturday, 19 September, NSRI Kommetjie duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from a local man on a jet-ski off-shore near to the Kakapo wreck, on Long Beach, Kommetjie, reporting technical engine failure.
A fellow jet-skier was on the scene offering to assist but in big sea swells they opted to rather request NSRI's assistance.
The NSRI Kommetjie sea rescue craft, IL Batello, was launched and NSRI Hout Bay, who were on the water at the time conducting routine training, responded 3 sea rescue craft, Nadine Gordimer, Albie Matthews and Tintswalo Phoenix.
On arrival on the scene a towline was rigged from NSRI Kommetjie's sea rescue craft IL Batello and we towed the casualty jet-skier to the safety of the bay at Sunset Reef, close to shore, and the man waded onto the beach with his jet-ski.
Our sea rescue ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) was dispatched towing the casualty jet-ski's trailer to the scene.
On our ATV arriving on the scene the jet-ski was recovered onto the casualty jet-ski's trailer and it was towed to the parking area where no further assistance was required.
NSRI commend the jet-skiers for raising the alarm before attempting to self rescue.
SIMONSTOWN:
Darren Zimmerman, NSRI Simonstown station commander, said:
At 11h57, Saturday, 19 September, NSRI Simonstown duty crew were alerted to a man suffering a medical emergency on a 9 meter RHIB (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat).
The skipper of the boat contacted Telkom Maritime Radio Services raising the alarm and reporting to be heading towards Simonstown harbour from deep-sea in False Bay.
MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) and NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) were alerted and an NSRI Simonstown medical crew stood-by at Simonstown harbour awaiting the imminent arrival of the casualty craft.
CMR (Cape Medical Response) and WC Government Health EMS responded.
On the casualty craft arriving at Simonstown harbour the local man was treated by NSRI medics and CMR paramedics and following a medical evaluation the man, in a stable condition, was taken to see a doctor by his family.
LANGEBAAN LAGOON:
Mike Shaw, NSRI Mykonos station commander, said:
At 16h48, Saturday, 19 September, NSRI Mykonos duty crew were activated by TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) following reports of 2 paddlers in difficulty at Church Haven on Langebaan Lagoon.
Our sea rescue craft Spirit of Rotary - East London II was launched.
Prior to our sea rescue craft arriving on the scene TNPA confirmed that the caller who had raised the alarm reported that both paddlers were safe ashore and no further assistance was required.
TABLE BAY:
Bruce Sandmann, NSRI training officer, said:
During an NSRI coxswains training course, being conducted with 5 NSRI trainee crew, while off-shore of Robben Island, we were alerted by NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) reporting 2 paddlers requesting assistance who had raised the alarm by activating the emergency alert on their NSRI RSA SafeTrx app on their smartphones.
We diverted the NSRI Table Bay sea rescue craft Spirit of Day with myself and accompanied by and NSRI Table Bay coxswain and 2 trainee coxswains from NSRI Simonstown and a trainee coxswain from NSRI Hermanus and we responded to the scene.
On activating the emergency sequence on their NSRI RSA SafeTrx app the 2 paddlers informed NSRI EOC that one paddler had fallen out of his fishing kayak, which was heavy laden with water, and the second paddler was using his fishing-kayak in an attempt to tow the casualty fishing kayak while his friend was in the water holding onto to the semi-submerged casualty fishing kayak.
They had reportedly launched earlier at the Three Anchor Bay slipway and headed towards Clifton but in heavy sea conditions the one man had fallen out of his fishing kayak and was not able to re-board and they activated an emergency using the NSRI RSA Safetrx.
We immediately diverted to respond towards the location and NSRI Bakoven shore crew responded to Clifton to investigate from the shoreline.
The NSRI RSA Safetrx app showed that they were 2 nautical miles off-shore of Clifton and the NSRI Bakoven shore crew had them visual while assisting to direct the responding sea rescue craft to the location.
On the arrival of our sea rescue craft at their location both men were rescued onto the sea rescue craft and the 2 fishing kayaks were recovered.
They were brought to the CPUT (Cape Peninsula University of Technology) at Granger Bay and once safely ashore they required no further assistance.
It remains uncertain what caused the new fishing-kayak to fill with water but we have commended the 2 local men, aged in their 40's, for downloading and using NSRI RSA Safetrx that contributed to their rescue.
They had downloaded NSRI RSA SafeTrx into their phones on Friday.
DURBAN:
Jonathan Kellerman, NSRI Durban station commander, said:
At 18h22, Saturday, 19 September, NSRI Durban duty crew were activated following reports received by NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) of a boat capsized off-shore of the Port of Durban in the vicinity of Grunters Gully.
The sea rescue craft Alick Rennie was launched and on arrival on the scene we found the 4 local male crewman of a local boat safe at Pelican Island and their capsized boat was adrift near to Grunters Gully.
The sea rescue craft Spirit of Surfski 6 was launched and the casualty boat was righted and towed to the Neptune Aquatic Club where it was recovered and no further assistance was required.
On Saturday, 19 September, NSRI Durban duty crew and Netcare 911 ambulance services were placed on alert to prepare to patient evacuate ill crewmen off 2 ships on Sunday morning.
In 2 separate incidents 2 crewman on a Cargo motor vessel required medical care and a Greek crewman on a crude oil tanker required medical care.
At 06h05, Sunday, 20 September, the sea rescue craft Alick Rennie was launched, accompanied by Netcare 911 rescue paramedics, and we rendezvoused with a Cargo motor vessel at anchor off-shore of the Port of Durban.
An NSRI rescue swimmer and a Netcare 911 rescue paramedic were transferred onto the ship and took over care of 2 crewmen, from the Ukraine, age 33 and 46, both suffering medical complaints requiring hospital care.
The 2 patients and the 2 rescuers were transferred onto our sea rescue craft and they were brought to our sea rescue station and they have been transported to hospital by a Netcare 911 ambulance, both in stable conditions.
At 09h01, Sunday, 20 September, the sea rescue craft Alick Rennie was launched, accompanied by Netcare 911 rescue paramedics, and rendezvoused with a crude oil tanker at anchor off-shore of the Port of Durban.
An NSRI rescue swimmer and a Netcare 911 rescue paramedic were transferred onto the ship and took over care of a 67 year old Greek crewman suffering a medical complaint requiring hospital care.
The patient and the 2 rescuers were transferred onto our sea rescue craft and the patient was brought to our sea rescue station and he has been transported to hospital by a Netcare 911 ambulance in a stable condition.
In both patient evacuation operations all Covid-19 precautions and protocols were observed and NSRI Emergency Operations Centre, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, WC Government Health EMS, NSRI Durban duty controllers, Netcare 911 duty controllers, Transnet National Ports Authority and Port Health Authorities assisted Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in communications, coordination and logistics during the operation.
WITBANK:
Travis Clack, NSRI Witbank station commander, said:
At 09h07, Sunday, 20 September, NSRI Witbank duty crew were activated following reports of a boat sinking at the pump station opposite The View Lodge on Witbank Dam.
Our NSRI rescue craft FNB Wavescapes was launched and on arrival on the scene we found 4 adults and 2 children, from Johannesburg, safe on the shore and their ski-boat almost completely sunk with only the bow protruding from the water.
They were all safe and not injured after they had managed to swim safely to shore when their boat took water and is suspected to have been caused from the boats bung not being placed.
Our NSRI crew righted and recovered the casualty boat 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 LambinonSEA RESCUE COMMUNICATIONSEmail: communications@searescue.org.za | Cell: +27 (0) 82 380 3800 | www.searescue.org.za
3 incidents in and around Cape Town - Tuesday 22nd September
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