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NSRI are appealing to the public not to climb aboard and not to jump off the BOS 400 crane barge wreck at Maori Bay, just South of Sandy Bay.

SANDY BAY:

NSRI are appealing to the public not to climb aboard and not to jump off the BOS 400 crane barge wreck at Maori Bay, just South of Sandy Bay.

It appears that various web sites encourage the exploration of the shipwreck but a number of incidents over the past year has claimed serious injuries to public members who have climbed aboard and jumped into the water from the crane.

On Sunday, 22 August, at 12h25, NSRI Bakoven and NSRI Hout Bay duty crews were activated following reports of persons injured at the BOS 400 crane barge shipwreck.

NSRI Bakoven diverted the sea rescue craft Gemini Legend from a training exercise and NSRI Hout Bay diverted the sea rescue craft Nadine Gordimer and Albie Matthews from a training exercise.

On arrival on the scene a group of people were observed on the shore on rocks above the wreck.

An NSRI rescue swimmer was deployed into the water and he swam ashore where it was determined that 2 University students, aged 21 and 23, were injured after they had reportedly jumped off the crane of the BOS 400 wreck.

They were in the care of their fellow hikers including a student nurse, first aiders and an off-duty NSRI Witsand crewman.

Both patients were treated for serious injuries, including lacerations, abrasions and hypothermia.

WC Government Health EMS ambulance and Life Healthcare response paramedics were activated to stand-by at NSRI Hout Bay sea rescue base.

Additional NSRI rescue swimmers were deployed from the sea rescue craft and both patients were transferred from the shore to the sea rescue craft.

They were brought to NSRI Hout Bay sea rescue base and they were medically assessed by paramedics at the sea rescue base but by that stage they were recovering and they declined ambulance transport to hospital.

They were taken by private transport to a hospital for medical care and released from hospital following medical treatment.

It was determined that a group of hikers, believed to be mostly young students, had planned a hike where some had reportedly believed that the hike would include swimming at Sandy Bay. When they arrived at the BOS 400 crane barge wreck it appears that it became evident that some in the group may have prearranged to climb aboard the wreck to jump off the wreck.

Despite some in the group reportedly appealing to those who were planning this adventure not to climb aboard the wreck 2 young men climbed onto the wreck and jumped into the water from the crane.

According to reports it was immediately evident to the group of hikers that the 2 young men were in trouble after they landed in the water and an NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy, stationed on the rocks above Maori Bay, was thrown to the 2 young men who used the buoy for floatation.

The NSRI Witsand member, who was there amongst the hikers, deployed into the water and he assisted in a rescue, together with other hikers from the group, to get the 2 casualties out of the water where a student nurse, 2 qualified first aiders, who were in the group, the NSRI volunteer, and other hikers in the group, assisted the casualties until NSRI arrived on the scene.

The concern is that the crane barge wreck is at an advanced stage of deterioration with rusted steel on the wreck threatening to collapse and rusted steel that has fallen off the wreck and submerged in the water around the wreck making the wreck and the surrounding water unsafe.


HARTENBOS:

Wally Maritz, NSRI Mossel Bay duty controller, said:

Just after 11h00 on Sunday, 22 August, NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew and By Grace ambulance services were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Hartenbos.

NSRI launched the sea rescue craft St Blaise Rescuer and an NSRI rescue vehicle, carrying NSRI rescue swimmers, and a By Grace ambulance responded.

On arrival on the scene a 14 year old Cape Town male, on a holiday weekend with family, was located in the surf behind rocks with a Good Samaritan, a gentleman who was not identified, assisting him.

He had been swept away by currents while swimming.

2 rescue swimmers were deployed from the sea rescue craft and they rescued the teenager onto our sea rescue craft and he was brought to shore suffering hypothermia and non-fatal drowning symptoms.

The patient was cared for by paramedics and transported to hospital by By Grace ambulance in a stable condition and he has made a full recovery.

The Good Samaritan who left the scene before we could get his details is commended for his assistance.

-ENDS-

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