Multiple Incidence : Port Edward's Community and NSRI Join Forces in Daring Rescues

NSRI Port Edward duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Glenmore Beach.

At 15h21, Thursday, 30 November, NSRI Port Edward duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Glenmore Beach.

NSRI Port Edward rescue swimmers responded directly to the scene while our NSRI Port Edward rescue vehicle, EMRS (KZN Government Health EMS), the SA Police Services and Police Search and Rescue responded.

On arrival on the scene the 20 year old male casualty was out of the water and he was treated for non-fatal drowning symptoms and he was transported to hospital by EMS ambulance in a stable condition and he has since been released from hospital.

In a remarkable effort bystanders had gone beyond the extra mile to rescue the man from the water.

2 locals, Phakamani Ngeleka, age 20 and Muqobi Ngeleka, age 16, had launched into the surf with 2 NSRI pink rescue buoys, that are stationed at Glenmore Beach, and they had used the pink buoys to help to keep the casualty afloat.

Another local man, Sphiwe Mbele, a former lifeguard, had also launched into the surfline to assist.

While they were gradually bringing the casualty towards the shore through the surfline, using the pink buoys to aid in their floatation, at least 50 bystanders, teenagers and adults, males and females, had formed a human chain from the beach into the water.

As the 3 rescuers reached the human chain the bystanders used that human chain to help to get the casualty out the water.

Eye-witness reports has verified this remarkable community effort, the forming of a human chain, together with the Good Samaritans using 2 NSRI pink rescue buoys, contributed to saving the man's life and is highly commended.

On Saturday, 2 December, during the morning, while NSRI Port Edward crew were conducting routine training - an MEC (Medical Emergency Course) annual practical test- it was noticed a man being swept out to sea in rip currents at Silver beach.

The man's dad and a lifeguard had launched into the water to assist.

Our NSRI rescue vehicle responded where NSRI rescue swimmers and Emithonsaneni Lifesaving lifeguards, using an NSRI pink rescue buoy, yellow rescue buoys, and Malibu rescue boards, launched into the surfline to assist.

The combination of NSRI rescue swimmers, the Emithonsaneni lifeguards, the pink buoy, yellow buoys and Malibu rescue boards, were successful in rescuing the man and his son safely out the water.

The dad and his 20 year old son were transported to hospital by Netcare 911 ambulance in stable conditions and they are expected to make a full recoveries.

The NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy program, launched in 2017, has now successfully contributed to 167 lives saved (that we know of) around South Africa.

All in water rescues have been successful and no harm has come to any of the rescuers who have used an NSRI pink rescue buoy to help someone in distress and in danger of drowning.