National incidents in Jeffreys Bay, Mossel Bay and Richards Bay

Incidents in Mossel Bay and Richards Bay and a search for a suspected body of a man floating in the surf - Jeffreys Bay

JEFFREYS BAY:

Police are investigating after receiving a call from fishermen reporting a suspected body of a man floating in the surf off-shore near to Van Stadens River Mouth (between Van Stadens River Mouth and Gamtoos River Mouth), Jeffreys Bay.

A scuba diving flipper was recovered from the shoreline nearby and it remains unknown if the flipper is related to this case.

NSRI Jeffreys Bay duty crew were activated at 15h46, Sunday, 12 September, to assist the SA Police Services and Police K9 Search and Rescue on the scene.

A sea rescue craft was launched to conduct a sea search and NSRI crew using an NSRI rescue vehicle assisted Police in a shoreline search.

Despite an extensive search no sign of a body was located and there remains no report of anyone missing or overdue that may be linked to this case.

Anyone with information that may be related to this case should call Police 10111 or NSRI Emergency Operations Centre 0870949774.

MOSSEL BAY:

Andre Fraser, NSRI station commander, said:

At 12h12, Sunday, 12 September, NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew were activated following eye-witness reports a man on a sea kayak appearing to be in difficulty off-shore of Klein Brak River Mouth.

The sea rescue craft Saint Blaize Rescuer was diverted from routine training to respond and NSRI members responded to the scene.

While responding to the scene we were informed that a bystander was swimming out to sea to help the casualty.

On our arrival on the scene the casualty, with his sea kayak, had managed to get to shore safely and the swimmer had also managed to get back to the shore, they were not injured and no further assistance was required.

RICHARDS BAY:

Jacques Kruger, NSRI Richards Bay duty coxswain, said:

On Wednesday, 8 September, in the late afternoon, NSRI Richards Bay duty crew, accompanied by Netcare 911 rescue paramedics and a Police Search and Rescue officer, launched the sea rescue craft Spirit of Richards Bay to rendezvous with a motor vessel at anchor off-shore of Richards Bay to patient evacuate an injured crewman.

Attempts had been made on Tuesday to patient evacuate the injured crewman but sea conditions were unfavourable.

On arrival at the motor vessel an NSRI rescue swimmer, the Police officer and the 2 Netcare 911 rescue paramedics were transferred onto the vessel and the adult male patient, secured into a specialised stretcher and using high angle technical rescue extrication equipment, was transferred onto our sea rescue craft and in the care of the paramedics he was brought to our sea rescue station.

In a stable condition the patient was transported to hospital by Netcare 911 ambulance for further care and he is expected to make a full recovery.

NSRI Emergency Operations Centre, NSRI Richards Bay duty controllers, Netcare 911 ambulance services duty controllers. Transnet National Ports Authority, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, a WC Government Health EMS duty doctor, Port Health Authorities and Police Sea Borderline Control assisted the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in logistics and the coordination of the patient evacuation operation.