Crew member of a cruise liner evacuated to hospital - Gqeberha. 2 locals assisted after their boat capsized - Port Alfred. 2 small craft sailors assisted - Gordons Bay.

NSRI Gqeberha duty crew were activated following a request for medical assistance from a cruise liner reporting a 27 year old female crew member requiring medical attention and evacuation to hospital. Also the NSRI Port Alfred duty crew were activated following reports of a small boat capsized on the Kowie River with 2 people reported to be in the water. Lastly, NSRI Gordons Bay duty crew were activated following eye-witness reports of a small sailing craft capsized about a kilometer off-shore of Harbour Island.

GQEBERHA:

Justin Erasmus, NSRI Gqeberha station commander, said:

The cruise liner had left the Port of Port Elizabeth earlier.

The sea rescue craft Spirit of Toft was launched, accompanied by an EC Government Health EMS rescue paramedic.

On arrival at the vessel, in Algoa Bay, an NSRI rescue swimmer and the EMS rescue paramedic boarded the ship using the Jacobs Ladder.

The patient, in a stable condition, secured into a harness, was hoisted aboard our sea rescue craft from the deck of the ship.

In the care of NSRI and the EMS rescue paramedic she was brought to our NSRI rescue base and transported to hospital by EMS ambulance for further care.

PORT ALFRED:

Juan Pretorius, NSRI Port Alfred station commander, said:


Our NSRI rescue craft Rescue 11 Alpha was launched. Our NSRI rescue vehicle and NSRI rescue swimmers responded to the land side.

On arrival on the scene, at 06h35, we found a local boat had rescued both locals, a 64 year old female and a 54 year old male.

They hade been fishing at anchor when the boat capsized.

Both were safe on the local boat while their small craft was in the capsized position.

We transferred both casualties onto our sea rescue craft and brought them to our NSRI rescue base.

NSRI rescue swimmers were deployed into the water and a towline was established. The small casualty craft was towed onto a sand bank where our NSRI rescue swimmers righted the boat.

The boat was towed to our NSRI rescue base where it was recovered and no further assistance was required.

NSRI commend the local boaters who acted swiftly to rescue the 2 locals.

GORDONS BAY:

Vincent Landman, NSRI Gordons Bay duty coxswain, said:

At 13h47, Thursday, 5 May, NSRI Gordons Bay duty crew were activated following eye-witness reports of a small sailing craft capsized about a kilometer off-shore of Harbour Island.

A local boater who was watching from Harbour Island reported their small sailing craft appearing to be blown towards the shore.

GB Med Sec ambulance services were placed on alert.

The sea rescue craft Spirit of Surfski was launched and on arrival on the scene we rescued 2 local men onto our sea rescue craft and brought them to our NSRI rescue base.

They were not injured and they required no further assistance.

Our NSRI rescue craft returned to the scene where we righted the casualty craft which we brought to the harbour where it was recovered.

NSRI commend the eye-witnesses for their vigilance.