Boat capsized - Mouille Point 

NATIONAL SEA RESCUE INSTITUTE (NSRI) MEDIA RELEASE:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SEA RESCUE – NSRI – STATION 3, Table Bay & STATION 2, Bakoven

Saturday, 23 January 2020

Boat capsized - Mouille Point

Robyn Silverstone, NSRI Table Bay duty controller, said:

At 16h58, Saturday, 23 January, NSRI Table Bay and NSRI Bakoven duty crews were activated following multiple calls from public members to NSRI Table Bay's emergency duty phone, NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) and Cape Town Port Control (TNPA - Transnet National Ports Authority) of a RHIB (rigid hull inflatable boat) capsized off-shore of Green Point Lighthouse, Mouille Point, Cape Town.

NSRI Bakoven launched the sea rescue craft Rotarian Schipper and NSRI Table Bay launched the sea rescue craft Spirit of Day.

The NSRI Table Bay sea rescue craft, Spirit of Vodacom, was prepared to be launched.

NSRI shore crew, WC Government Health EMS (an EMS rescue squad and an EMS doctor), CoCT (City of Cape Town) Law Enforcement, CoCT Fire and Rescue Services and a Fire Dive Unit, the SA Police Services and a Police Dive Unit responded.

2 local private boats, the yacht Argyle, and a motor Catamaran, Hammercat 35, that were in the vicinity at the time, rendered assistance on the scene and the 6 local casualty crew of the capsized boat, the skipper and a boat crewman, both males, and 4 passengers, 2 males and 2 females, aged in their mid 20's, from Pinelands, were rescued onto the private boats.

On the NSRI sea rescue craft arriving on the scene the 6 casualty crew were transferred onto the sea rescue craft Spirit of Day and they were brought to the NSRI Table Bay sea rescue station where they were medically checked by the Metro EMS doctor and EMS paramedics, and they were not injured other than sustaining minor scrapes and bruises and they are all doing well.

The NSRI Bakoven sea rescue craft Rotarian Schipper righted the capsized boat and initiated towing the casualty boat towards the Port of Table Bay and the towline was taken over by the NSRI Table Bay sea rescue craft Spirit of Day, that returned to the scene, and the casualty boat was towed to her mooring at Quay 4 and will be recovered on Sunday for repairs.

It appears that the RHIB was en route towards Clifton when it was broadsided by a wave and capsized.

All onboard the boat were wearing life-jackets.

NSRI commend the swift response of the private boats, yacht Argyle and the motor Catamaran Hammercat 35, and for their assistance on the scene.

-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