Incidents in Mossel Bay, Knysna, North Coast KZN, St Lucia

It was a busy Sunday for NSRI crew out in Mossel, Bay, KZN's North Coast and St Lucia.

MOSSEL BAY:

On Sunday, while conducting routine training, our NSRI duty crew were diverted to respond to Glentana following reports of a drowning in progress.

The sea rescue craft Spirit of Safmarine III, St Blaize Rescuer and Rescue 15 Bravo responded.

Our NSRI rescue vehicle, WC Government Health EMS, Mossel Bay Fire and Rescue Services, By Grace ambulance services and SA Police Services responded.

On arrival on the scene it was found that a local Neighbourhood Watch member had rescued a female, believed to be aged 35, from Mossel Bay, from the water.

CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) efforts commenced.

Sadly after all efforts to resuscitate the female were exhausted she was declared deceased by paramedics.

The body of the female has been taken into the care of Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.

Police have opened an inquest docket.

Condolences are conveyed to the family.

KNYSNA:

At 14h32, Saturday, 26 November, NSRI Knysna duty crew were activated following of a non-fatal drowning incident, involving a child, at the Green Hole, Leisure Isle.

NSRI crew, WC Government Health EMS, ER24 ambulance services, Knysna Fire and Rescue Services and SA Police Services responded.

On arrival on the scene medical treatment was commenced on a 3 year old male child that had been rescued from the lagoon reportedly by a youngster, aged approximately 11.

The child was stabilised on the scene before being transported to hospital by ER24 ambulance in a serious condition.

The swift response is commended.

NORTH COAST KZN:

On Friday, 25 November, NSRI Ballito, Kwadakuza lifeguards and Ballito Specialised Rescue responded to Tinley Manor, near to the tidal pool, following reports of a sea turtle trapped in fishing nets off-shore.

Kwadakuza lifeguards, using Malibu Rescue Boards, paddled out to the turtle that was found to be trapped in fishing nets and fishing line, in distress and with fishing line ingested appearing to be blocking it's airways.

Lifeguards were able to cut the sea turtle free from the entrapment and although still entangled in fishing line and netting they brought the turtle to shore.

The KZN Marine Animal Stranding Network were alerted.

The sea turtle was brought to above the high water mark where fishing nets and fishing line were removed from the turtle. The turtle was loaded onto a medical spine board and carried to the parking area and loaded into a Ballito Specialised Rescue vehicle before being transported to uShaka Marine World where vets took over treatment.

The sea turtle is recovering at uShaka Marine World.

ST LUCIA:

At approximately 09h20, Monday, 21 November, Cape Vidal Marine received notification from a visitor camping with a group from Vryheid that he had received a phone call from one of his friends that was at sea on a fishing vessel that had capsized at sea in the vicinity of the Cape Vidal Lighthouse.

The report was that a small fishing vessel with 2 persons on board had been swamped by a wave as they were attempting to repair one of their motors and their boat had capsized.

Both crew members had been rescued by other fishing vessels that were nearby and who were then attempting to try and right the capsized vessel.

NSRI St Lucia duty crew were activated and on arrival at Cape Vidal our NSRI Jetrib rescue craft was launched.

NSRI crew and other crew from the the fishing vessels Mfezi and Hoofkantoor righted the capsized craft, despite being hampered by the worsening weathers conditions (the wind had increased to approximately 15 knots North Easterly.

The casualty craft was towed to the Cape Vidal launch site by the local fishing vessel Hoofkantoor, where CM Marine had arranged for the assistance of a private tractor and with the rest of the NSRI shore crew the vessel was safely beached,

The two casualty crew members suffered no injuries and there was minimal damage to the vessel.

The assistance of the local fishing vessels is commended.