On Friday 21 July, the NSRI celebrated its 56th Annual Awards Evening and AGM at the V&A Waterfront - Cape Town. We celebrated our dedicated volunteers and other individuals who risk their lives to save the lives of others on South African waters.
Always on duty to serve, save and protect, during the period 1st January 2022 to 31st December 2022, the NSRI conducted 1,196 rescue operations, rescued 1,091 people and 64 animals. Furthermore, 628,351 children were educated in water safety, and 13,695 Survival Swimming lessons were presented. Click here to access the NSRI’s 2022 Integrated Annual Report for a full breakdown.
Bravery Gold: Edward Gutsche
For his heroic actions on 1 October 2022 when he saved four lives at Port Alfred's Kelly Beach.
Click here to read more about this rescue.
Bravery Bronze: Chris Sparg
For his heroic actions, on June 29th, 2022, off the Krom River Mouth, St Francis Bay, saving the lives of the three crew members that day alongside her family.
Click here to read more about this rescue.
Bravery Bronze: Courtney Sparg
For for her heroic actions, on June 29th, 2022, off the Krom River Mouth, St Francis Bay, saving the lives of the three crew members that day alongside her family.
Click here to read more about this rescue.
Bravery Bronze: Cameron Sparg
For for his heroic actions, on June 29th, 2022, off the Krom River Mouth, St Francis Bay, saving the lives of the three crew members that day alongside her family.
Click here to read more about this rescue.
Bravery Bronze: Simon Bekker
For his courageous actions on December 11th, 2022, when he, along with three other Good Samaritans, rescued two teenagers at Eerste Rivier Beach in Tsitsikamma, in dense fog and rough seas
Click here to read more about this rescue.
Bravery Bronze: Divan Prinsloo
For his brave actions on 7th October 2022 when he rescued 4 swimmers in difficulty at Leentjiesklip Beach in Wilderness.
Click here to read more about this rescue.
Bravery Bronze: Coenraad Prinsloo
For his brave actions on 7th October 2022 when he rescued 4 swimmers in difficulty at Leentjiesklip Beach in Wilderness.
Click here to read more about this rescue.
Bravery Bronze: Andrew Elcock
For demonstrating immense courage on 30 April 2023, when he rescued an 8-year-old boy who was caught in a rip current at Clifton’s 1st Beach.
Click here to read more about this rescue.
Bravery Silver: Reza Yon
For his courageous actions when on the 25th of September 2022, he went to the assistance of 3 teenagers caught in a rip current off Mnandi Beach, tragically losing his life in the process. Reza's mother Miriam Essop and other members of his family accepted the award.
Click here to read more about this rescue.
Gallantry Bronze: João Felizardo
For his brave actions on 13th August 2022 when saving the life of a man who was swept off Port Alfred’s West Pier.
Click here to read more about this rescue.
Gallantry Bronze: Quentin Power
For his brave actions on 4th December 2022 when he saved two teenagers’ lives at Salmon Bay.
Click here to read more about this rescue.
Meritorious Service Award: Station 34 – Yzerfontein for their prompt and effective actions in rescuing four individuals in distress on 6th July 2022. The station's duty crew responded swiftly to a distress call reporting a capsized boat with four people clinging to its upturned hull in rough sea conditions 200 meters off Yzerfontein harbour.
Click here to read more about this rescue.
Meritorious Service Award: Station 20 – Shelly Beach for for their prompt and effective action in rescuing two injured crew members of a bulk carrier after an onboard accident. On 16 October 2022, NSRI Shelly Beach duty crew received a distress call reporting injuries to two sailors on a bulk carrier motor vessel 19 nautical miles off Port Shepstone.
Click here to read more about this rescue.
Meritorious Service Award: Station 23 – Wilderness for their prompt and effective actions in responding to multiple incidents over the two days of Saturday and Sunday, November 26th and 27th, 2022, at Wilderness Beach and nearby areas.
Click here to read more about this rescue.
Meritorious Service Award: Skipper of the Umfondini – Boetie Fourie in recognition of his remarkable actions on Friday, the 14th of April 2023, when he diverted his fishing vessel to assist 26 seamen who were adrift in a life raft after abandoning their ship which was on fire, south of Cape Point.
Click here to read more about this rescue.
Meritorious Service Award: Station 22 – Vaal Dam, Station 25 – Hartbeespoort Dam, Station 27 – Gauteng, Station 35 – Witbank Dam for their prompt and effective actions in responding to calls for assistance during an extended period of flash floods in Gauteng in early December 2022.
Click the links below to read more about this rescue and for our coverage, click here.
Vaal Dam
Hartbeespoort Dam
Gauteng
Witbank Dam
Meritorious Service Award: Jonathan Kellermann for his outstanding dedication and contributions to the NSRI over the past 8 years. He joined NSRI in February 2016 and has since progressed through various ranks, from trainee to crew, eventually becoming a Coxswain Class 1 in June 2022. Additionally, he served as a helicopter rescue swimmer, successfully completing numerous rescues and demonstrating a high level of physical fitness and skill.
Click here to read more about this award.
Meritorious Service Award: Marc de Vos for his exceptional contributions and dedication to the NSRI over the past 13 years. Marc joined NSRI on February 25, 2010, and has since demonstrated exemplary leadership and operational skills, progressing through various ranks from trainee to crew, eventually becoming a Class 1 Coxswain in April 2017.
Click here to read more about this award.
Directors’ Thanks are presented to Captain Dean Nieuwoudt for his heroic actions as Metro Police SAR Unit Commander on 31 December 2021, during the disastrous floods in KwaZulu-Natal. Responding to a flash flood emergency at Lusaka Informal Settlement, Captain Nieuwoudt rescued and resuscitated a 4-year-old girl who had been washed away.
Click here to read more about this rescue.
Directors’ Thanks are presented to Tamsanqa ‘Lucky’ Ntuli the Skipper of Escape Cat for his swift actions on the 5th of March 2023 when, as skipper of the yacht Escape Cat, he alerted Cape Town Port and nearby vessels of a Man Overboard (MOB) from the Harbour Wall in the Victoria & Albert harbour basin, and then immediately went to the assistance of the man in the water.
Click here to read more about this rescue.
The Most Improved Station of the year is awarded to Station 4 Mykonos.
The Best RIB Station of the year is awarded to Station 14 Plettenberg Bay.
The Pat O Sullivan Trophy is awarded to Station 5 Durban.
This year the Marmion Marsh Award is presented to Andrew Ingram
Andrew has made significant contributions to various projects, including the NSRI’s School Water Safety Programme, the Pink Rescue Buoy initiative, and the Survival Swimming Centres, earning the department recognition from the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF). Andrew’s passion and focus on Drowning Prevention in South Africa and his efforts in accumulating drowning data have helped to reveal the seriousness of the situation in this country.
Andrew Ingram has been a devoted member of the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) since 1981, starting as a Trainee Crewman at Station 2 Bakoven.
The Marmion Marsh Trophy is awarded annually to a person who has rendered distinguished service to the NSRI.
Click here to read the award in full.
The Alric Simpson Floating Trophy is an annual award presented to organizations that have provided exceptional service to the NSRI. Sponsored by the Late Mrs. Eleanor Simpson and her two sons, the trophy is named in memory of her sea-loving husband, Alric, resulting in the Alric Simpson knot board. This year, the prestigious award is bestowed upon Two Oceans Marine Manufacturing.
This award acknowledges Two Oceans Marine Manufacturing's significant contribution to saving lives on South African waters. Their continuous support and strategic partnership have empowered Sea Rescue to fulfill its mission of saving lives, changing lives, and creating futures.
Click here to read the award in full.
Morne Dettmer - Station 4 Mykonos
Jacques Kruger – Station 5 Durban
Lorenzo Taverna-Turisan – Station 5 Durban
Mike Whittal - Station 6 Gqeberha
Kevin Warren - Station 6 Gqeberha
Paul Leong – Station 8 Hout Bay
Gerhard Potgieter – Station 27 Gauteng
Jacobus Louw - Station 30 Agulhas
Krista Lazzari - Station 01 Volunteer Support Centre
Paula Leech - Station 03 Table Bay
Adrian James - Station 06 Gqeberha
Alan Singmin - Station 06 Gqeberha
Craig Lambinon - Station 1 Volunteer Support Centre
Malcolm Manion - Station 5 Durban
Andrew de Kock - Station 10 Simon's Town
Keryn van der Walt - Station 11 Port Alfred – Chris Pike to receive
André Jerling - Station 14 Plettenberg Bay
Hennie Niehaus - Station 23 Wilderness
Stephanie Daniels - Station 1 Volunteer Support Centre
Graeme Harding - Station 1 Volunteer Support Centre
Andrew Matthews - Station 8 Hout Bay
Spencer Oldham - Station 8 Hout Bay
Steph Le Roux - Station 14 Plettenberg Bay – Jaco Kruger to receive
Dawie Zwiegelaar - Station 15 Mossel Bay
Howard Bell - Station 2 Bakoven
Johnny Albert - Station 2 Bakoven – David Rosenberg to receive
Erwin Selk- Station 10 Simon's Town
Mark Hughes - Station 1 Volunteer Support Centre
David Roberts- Station 10 Simon's Town – accepted by Simon Mcdonnell
Ian Strachan - Station 1 Volunteer Support Centre - accepted by NSRI CEO Cleeve Robertson
The NSRI wishes to thank the following sponsors that helped make our AGM and Awards possible, we appreciate your support:
The Avenue Conference Centre at the V&A Waterfront
Andrew Ingram Photography
Honouring incredible acts of bravery and service at the 2023 NSRI AGM & Awards Evening
Read More
From December 12, 2024, to January 18, 2025, you can donate your Ðiscovery Miles through the Discovery app or Discovery Bank app. This is a unique opportunity to turn your fitness achievements into life-saving contributions that directly support three vital projects: ...
At 12h36, Tuesday, 10 December, NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) were alerted by Police reporting a local 17 year old male suspected to be missing in the water at Clanwilliam Dam. ...
Ryan Holmes, NSRI Gordons Bay station commander, said: At 09h01, Tuesday, 10 December, NSRI Gordons Bay duty crew and the CoCT (City of Cape Town) water rescue network were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Strand Beach. ...