Ballito – Thursday, 15 July, 3 incidents

Sean Devine, NSRI Ballito duty coxswain, said:

On Sunday, 11 July, at approximately 10h24, while conducting routine training exercises off-shore of Tinley Manor, our duty crew were diverted to assist a jetski, approximately 1 nautical mile off-shore of Sheffield Beach, with her casualty crew reporting electronic motor failure. The sea rescue craft Freemasons Way was diverted to respond to the scene while the sea rescue craft waverunner was towed to Salmon Bay by our sea rescue vehicle with additional rescue crew to receive the casualty craft. On arrival on scene the casualty crew, a local father and his son, were transferred from their jetski onto the sea rescue craft and a towline was established. The crew that responded to Salmon Bay set up a recovery line assisted by a team from Ballito Skiboat Club, with the use of their tractor, and stood by to receive the casualty craft. Due to a shallow inshore bank it was not possible to tow the craft directly onto beach with the casualty crew onboard the sea rescue craft and the waverunner was launched. The casualty crew and their gear were transferred safely from the sea rescue craft Freemasons Way onto the sea rescue craft waverunner and in relays the father and his son were taken ashore aboard the waverunner. The waverunner then returned to sea and took over the tow from Freemasons Way and the casualty jetski was towed to shore through the surfline. Once the casualty craft was on shore and recovered to her trailer no further assistance was required and our NSRI crew were released from the scene to continue training exercises. NSRI commend the assistance of the Ballito Skiboat Club.

On Tuesday, 13 July, at approximately 18h53, while routinely checking on our sea rescue base NSRI crew happened upon a man, aged in his 30's, who had sustained a gunshot wound and he required medical assistance. NSRI medics tended to his wounds and KZN Government Health EMS were activated. Prior to an ambulance arriving on the scene the man, in a stable condition, was transported to hospital by private transport accompanied by a local security company and NSRI wish the man a speedy recovery. On Wednesday, 14 July, at approximately 10h46, NSRI Ballito duty crew were activated for a drowning in progress at the Tugela River near to the Tugela Village. Our duty crew responded by road in our sea rescue vehicle towing the sea rescue craft Freemasons Way. Mandeni Council lifeguards and the SA Police Services were activated. On arrival on the scene it was established that a man, believed to be aged 33, was missing in the water after reportedly trying to cross the river approximately 1 kilometer upstream from the river mouth. Our sea rescue craft was launched and a search was commenced by NSRI, lifeguards and Police. Mandeni lifeguards and NSRI rescue swimmers were deployed into the water to search. During a search the body of the man was located and recovered onto an NSRI floating stretcher and brought to shore where sadly he was declared deceased. The body was taken into the care of Police and KZN Government Health Forensic Pathology Services. Police have opened an inquest docket. Condolences are conveyed to family of the deceased man. NSRI appeal to the public not to swim or wade across rivers especially when the rivers are swollen or in flood.

SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY: 112 or 087 094 9774

Released by: