WITSAND:Thys Carstens, NSRI Witsand station commander, said:A Pygmy Sperm whale has sadly died after beaching a second time.
Thys Carstens, NSRI Witsand station commander, said:Wednesday, 30 September, NSRI Witsand crew were activated following reports from an NSRI Witsand crewman, Anton Kotze, of a whale found beached at Main Beach, Witsand.Our crew responded to the scene where a Pygmy Sperm whale was found on the beach and the whale was being assessed by Anton.NSRI crew, together with concerned public members, secured the whale, using a net, and corralled the whale through the surfline, taking advantage of the outgoing Spring high tide, wading the whale through the surf towards the backline.While the whale appeared to resist help we were able to coralle the whale to deeper water and once in deep enough water, about 100 meters off-shore, the whale swam off into the deep.The operation completed at 20h30 and there were high hopes that the whale would survive.Public members who assisted on the scene were commended for their help.Sadly during the night that whale was found to have re-beached and the whale has died.
PORT ELIZABETH:A patient has been evacuated to hospital from a ship.
Kevin Warren, NSRI Port Elizabeth duty coxswain, said:At 18h02, Wednesday, 30 September, NSRI Port Elizabeth duty crew launched the sea rescue craft Spirit of Toft, accompanied by an EC Government Health EMS rescue paramedic, to patient evacuate a crewman suffering a medical complaint on a Container motor vessel at anchor off-shore of the Port of Ngqura.On arrival at the ship I was transferred onto the ship and the patient, in a stable condition, was taken off the ship and onto our sea rescue craft without incident.In the care of the EMS rescue paramedic the patient, a 64 year old male from Croatia, was brought to our sea rescue station and he was transported to hospital by EMS ambulance in a stable condition.NSRI Emergency Operations Centre, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, WC Government Health EMS, EC Government Health EMS, NSRI Port Elizabeth duty controllers, Transnet National Ports Authority and Port Health Authorities assisted Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in communications, coordination and logistics during the operation.The operation completed at 20h55.
