Multiple National Incidents

Police are investigating a case at the Hermanus old harbour where clothing, a cellphone and other items were discovered on the shore.

NSRI Hermanus launched a JetRib rescue craft to conduct a search while Law Enforcement officers and the SA Police Services attended at the scene.

At the time there were no reports of any person missing or overdue that may be related to this case.

The personal items were recovered by Law Enforcement officers.

Local charter companies have been requested to keep a look-out.

Despite an extensive search no sign of anyone in any peril was located.

Police are investigating.

Anyone with information that can assist in this case can call Hermanus Police Station on 028 3135300 or 10111.

TSITSIKAMMA:

NSRI STN 36 and 46 OYSTER BAY and STORMS RIVER:

On Tuesday, 9 January, at 12h32, NSRI Oyster Bay and NSRI Storms River crew, , Relay ambulance services, S A National Parks Tsitsikamma rangers, the EC Government Health EMS and the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter responded to Storms River following reports of a 19 year old female hiker, from Johannesburg, with a medical complaint, at the Waterfall, on the Storms River Mouth hiking trail.

An NSRI/SANParks Storms River rescue craft was launched while emergency crew hiked to the scene.

On arrival on the scene medical treatment was initiated and the emergency crew on the scene were joined by EMS/AMS rescue paramedics who were deployed from the EMS/AMS Skymed helicopter.

The patient was stabilized and secured into a Stokes basket stretcher and hiked to the Storms River camp site where an LZ (landing zone) had been prepared for the helicopter.

At the camp site further medical attention was given to the patient who was then airlifted to hospital by the EMS/AMS Skymed helicopter in a stable condition.

The close working relationship between all services deployed is commended.

On Thursday, 21 December, SA National Parks Tsitsikamma rangers, NSRI Oyster Bay and NSRI Storms River were alerted to 2 female hikers overdue from a hike in the vicinity of The Waterfall, Storms River Mouth.

While a search party was activated family of the 2 hikers reported that they had arrived safely and no further assistance was required.

The family is commended for not delaying an emergency response to their concerns.

On Thursday, 14 December, at 17h43, SA National Parks Tstitsikamma rangers, NSRI Oyster Bay, NSRI Storms River, EC Government Health EMS and Med-Life ambulance services were activated following reports of a 17 year old Johannesburg male injured and trapped by high tide on rocks near to the shoreline of the Otter Trail.

It appears that the teenager may have slipped on rocks where he had sustained injuries and was unable to get to safety because of an incoming high tide.

On arrival on the scene NSRI rescue swimmers were deployed and reached the teenager commencing medical treatment.

The teenager was safely evacuated off rocks by NSRI rescue swimmers, SANParks Tsitisikamma rangers, assisted by family, of the teenager and by public members.

The teenager required no further assistance and the family were advised on treatment for wounds sustained by the teenager.

On Wednesday, 13 December, NSRI Oyster Bay and NSRI Storms River assisted SANParks Tsitsikamma rangers at an incident where a ranger collapsed with a medical condition at Engcobo, near to Storms River Mouth.

Relay ambulance services were dispatched.

NSRI Oyster Bay crew, NSRI Storms River crew and SANParks Tsitsikamma rangers secured the male ranger into a Stokes basket stretcher and he was carried, hiked, to Storms River camp site where he was taken into the care of Relay ambulance services paramedics.

The man was transported to hospital by Relay ambulance in a stable condition for further medical care.

On Sunday, 3 December, at 10h43, NSRI Oyster Bay, NSRI Storms River and SANParks Tsitsikamma rangers responded to East of Storms River Mouth, at the Lookout Point, where a 70 year old male was reported to have suffered an injury while hiking.

Relay ambulance services and the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter were activated.

Secured into a Stokes basket stretcher and with medical treatment continuing, the man was carried, hiked, to a trail road, on the Otter Trail, where they were met by a Relay ambulance.

In the care of Relay paramedics the man was transported to hospital in a stable condition.

While this call was in progress, at 12h13, Sunday, 3 December, additional emergency teams were activated to respond to The Waterfall, Storms River Mouth, where a 58 year old German lady was injured in a fall.

NSRI Oyster Bay, NSRI Storms River and SANParks Tsitsikamma rangers responded to that incident.

On arrival on the scene medical treatment commenced and the patient was stabilised.

An additional Relay ambulance, and WC Government Health EMS ambulance were dispatched.

The patient, secured into a Stokes Basket stretcher, was carried, hiked, to Storms River Mouth.

An LZ (Landing Zone) was prepared for the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter.

The patient was brought to the LZ where paramedics continued with medical care before the patient was airlifted to hospital aboard the EMS/AMS Skymed helicopter in the care of paramedics.

The cooperation between all emergency services is commended.

JEFFREYS BAY:

NSRI STN 37 JEFFREYS BAY:

On Saturday, 6 January, NSRI Jeffreys Bay duty crew responded to Paradise Beach following reports of a windsurfer separated from his board and in difficulty.

NSRI rescue craft were prepared to be launched and NSRI rescue swimmers and the emergency services responded.

The kite-boarder was able to get to shore unassisted and no further assistance was required.

Then, at 11h52, NSRI Jeffreys Bay duty crew were alerted by Kouga lifeguards of 2 local men, brothers, recovered from the water by Kouga lifeguards at Aston Bay Lagoon, Seekoi River, and in need of medical care.

An off-duty NSRI Jeffreys Bay crewman had responded from the other side of the lagoon after he and his wife noticed a commotion on the other side of the lagoon.

An NSRI Jeffreys Bay rescue vehicle, Gardmed ambulance services, EC Government Health EMS, Relay ambulance services and the SA Police Services responded.

On the NSRI member arriving on the scene Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) efforts were commenced on one of the men, age 29, and efforts were joined by paramedics.

Despite extensive CPR efforts sadly the man was declared deceased.

The second man, the brother, was treated for non-fatal drowning symptoms.

The body of the deceased man was taken into the care of Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.

Condolences are conveyed to family of the deceased man.

On Friday, 22 December, NSRI lifeguards responded to Wacky Waterpark on request to render medical assistance to a 13 year old female suffering an injury.

An NSRI Jeffreys Bay rescue vehicle and EC Government Health EMS ambulance responded to assist.

The patient was stabilised and secured to a spinal board and transported to hospital, by EMS ambulance, for further medical care.

NSRI lifeguards, that responded from their duty beach at Nina’s Beach, had initiated medical treatment to the female, and they are commended for their response.

Also on Friday, 22 December, an NSRI Coast watcher, near to Paradise Beach, launched into the surf, with a pink rescue buoy, to assist 2 young males who were swept away by rip currents.

Their 2 friends, males, who were swimming with them at the time escaped the rip currents and managed to get to the beach.

With the aid of the NSRI pink rescue buoy the NSRI Coast watcher successfully rescued the 2 boys and they needed no further assistance.

On Wednesday, 20 December, at around 20h00, NSRI Jeffreys Bay, the emergency services and Telkom Maritime Radio Services investigated flashing red lights on the coast.

On closer inspection it appears that there were 3 fishing vessels in the area at the time and one was recovering long line fishing gear and the red flashing light was attributed to that and no further action was required.

MOSSEL BAY:

NSRI STN 15 MOSSEL BAY:

Saturday, 13 January, NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew assisted a small RHIB (rigid hull inflatable boat) with 2 crew onboard, offshore of Diaz Beach, with motor mechanical failure.

On arrival on the scene a towline was rigged and they were towed to the yacht club moorings without incident and they required no further assistance.

Tuesday 9 January, at 14h25, NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew were activated to respond to Die Poort to assist NSRI lifeguards, on duty on behalf of Mossel Bay Municipality, who reported to be providing medical attention to a 15 year old local female following a non-fatal drowning accident.

WC government Health EMS and By Grace ambulance services were activated.

NSRI has learned, in cooperation with the local Mossel Bay Advertiser, that a Uitenhage man, on holiday with his family, Charles van Wyk, while watching over his 12 year old son, swimming at Die Poort Tidal Pool, noticed two young females appear to grow tired while swimming.

One female appeared to be in distress.

A female public member appeared to try to help the girls but she had retreated.

Charles launched into the water and swam past his son where on reaching the 2 females he assisted a 15 year old to stay afloat.

Charles was able to bring the teenager closer to shore where he was assisted by an unidentified man. Together they brought the teenager to shore. The second girl had managed to reach the shore unassisted.

NSRI lifeguards, that had been alerted to the incident, arrived on the scene and initiated medical treatment to the teenager.

NSRI Mossel Bay medics and By Grace paramedics, assisted by NSRI lifeguards, stabilised the female and she was transported to hospital by By Grace ambulance where she recovered from non-fatal drowning symptoms.

Charles has been commended for saving the teenagers life.

On Friday, 29 December, at 08h12, NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew were activated following reports of a Trans Agulhas race pencil duck capsized in the surf line at The Point with 2 crew onboard during the Trans Agulhas Challenge.

NSRI Mossel Bay launched an NSRI rescue craft while NSRI rescue swimmers, the SA Police Services, WC Government Health EMS and Mossel Bay Fire and Rescue Services responded.

On arrival on the scene the 2 crew of the boat were found safely ashore and their craft had drifted ashore onto rocks.

The 2 race crew were assessed by paramedics and they were not injured.

Their racing pencil duck was recovered from the rocks.

Wednesday, 27 December, NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew, the SA Police Services, Police WPDS (Water Policing and Dive Services), Mossel Bay Fire and Rescue Services and WC Government Health EMS responded to Hartenbos following eyewitness reports of a suspected drowning in progress.

NSRI lifeguards had initiated a search.

During a search lifeguards located a young man, fitting the description of the eyewitnesses, who was located safe on the beach and it was determined that he had fallen from rocks into the sea at around the same time of the eyewitness reports but he had managed to escape the water and then later realized that it may be him that rescue services were searching for in the vicinity.

Despite some minor cuts and bruises he required no further medical attention and all services stood down.

The eye-witnesses were commended for their vigilance.

On Sunday, 24 December, at 10h50, NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew and the emergency services responded to Dana Bay following reports of a drowning in progress.

While responding to the scene eyewitnesses confirmed 2 children had been rescued by a bystander Good Samaritan using an NSRI pink rescue buoy.

Both children required no medical care.

NSRI commend the bystander Good Samaritan as well as other bystanders who waded in to assist.

On Saturday, 23 December, at 18h23, NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew and the emergency services responded to Dwarswegstrand following reports of a drowning in progress.

On arrival on the scene it was found that 2 bathers, both teenagers, were rescued from the water by a bystander Good Samaritan. He has been commended for saving 2 lives. The casualties were not injured and they required no further assistance.

On Tuesday, 19 December, at 19h28, NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew and emergency services responded to Boggomsbaai where it was reported by eyewitnesses of swimmers or paddlers suspected to be in difficulty.

On arrival on the scene it was found to be fishing buoys, that the eyewitnesses were observing, that appear to have been left in the water by fishermen and there were no persons in difficulty. The fishing buoys were recovered.

On Monday, 18 December, NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew launched the NSRI rescue craft Spirit of Safmarine III and St Blaise Rescuer, accompanied by an NSRI EMS paramedic, at 21h36, and rendezvoused with the cruise liner Seven Seas Voyager to patient evacuate 2 patients with medical complaints.

MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) and a WC Government Health EMS duty doctor had been in communications with the cruise liner from earlier in the day.

They were headed from Walvis Bay to the Port of Port Elizabeth.

Initially they had requested NSRI to meet them 16 nautical miles offshore. But due to the nature of the medical ailments NSRI requested that the vessel rather come into the Bay for the medical transfer to take place in a calmer environment.

The patients, a male, age 87, and a female, age 85, from the United States of America, were transferred from the cruise liner onto the NSRI rescue craft and in the care of the NSRI EMS paramedic they were brought to shore and transported to hospital by ER24 ambulance in stable conditions.

NSRI Mossel Bay duty controllers, NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Mossel Bay Port Control, Police Sea Borderline Control, a WC Government Health EMS duty doctor and EMS Metro Control and Telkom Maritime Radio Services, assisted MRCC in the logistics and coordination of the patient evacuation operation that began at around midday and completed at 23h30.

Friday, 15 December, at approximately 14h03, NSRI lifeguards, on duty on behalf of Mossel Bay Municipality, at The Point, rescued an adult male from the water who it appears got into difficulty in rip currents while swimming.

NSRI lifeguards treated the man for minor cuts and bruises and no further assistance was required.

The quick actions of the lifeguards is commended.

KLEINMOND and FISHERHAVEN:

NSRI STN 42 KLEINMOND and NSRI STN 17 HERMANUS:

On Saturday, 23 December, at 19h52, NSRI Kleinmond duty crew and the emergency services responded to Betty’s Bay, Silversands Beach, following reports of a drowning in progress.

On arrival on the scene 4 NSRI rescue swimmers entered the water to search for 2 male teenagers reportedly caught in rip currents.

It appears that earlier 3 local surfers, who arrived to go surfing, had launched into the water where they came across a bystander Good Samaritan using an NSRI pink rescue buoy who had tried to reach the 2 teenagers. He reported that one teenager was safely out of the water and one was missing.

The surfers searched further out to sea where one of the surfers located the teenager and used his surfboard to assist the exhausted teenager to rest on his surfboard.

The surfers, not sure if the second was actually out of the water, continued to search until NSRI rescue swimmers arrived confirming that a 15 year old was safe on the beach.

Together they assisted the 16 year old back to the beach where medical treatment was rendered.

The 16 year old was stabilised on the scene and then transported to hospital by WC Government Health EMS ambulance.

The SA Police Services and Overstrand Fire and rescue Services also assisted on the scene.

On Sunday, 24 December, at 14h30, NSRI Kleinmond and NSRI Hermanus, together with the emergency services, were alerted to a boat with 4 crew onboard in difficulty at Fisherhaven.

NSRI Kleinmond dispatched an NSRI rescue vehicle while NSRI Hermanus dispatched an NSRI rescue vehicle and launched an NSRI rescue craft.

A bystander Good Samaritan, using his own RHIB (rigid hull inflatable boat), Pieter de Jager, had also gone to assist the casualty boat.

2 crew had managed to get out of the boat when it was blown against the shoreline and Pieter had rescued 2 people from the boat and he had transported them to the slipway at Fisherhaven.

NSRI crew were able to reach the casualty boat where later the boats keys were delivered to the NSRI crew who managed to get the boat started and they brought the boat to a slipway at Fisherhaven where the boat was recovered.

There were no injuries sustained to the boaters who it appears had drifted against the shoreline after the boat’s motors had failed.

YZERFONTEIN:

NSRI STN 34 YZERFONTEIN:

Sunday, 24 December, at 13h14, NSRI Yzerfontein received a call from the See en Sand Lifeguards stationed at Yzerfontein Main Beach reporting a non-fatal drowning accident and requiring medical assistance.

WC Government Health EMS and Swartland Law Enforcement officers had been activated.

A male believed to be aged in his 40’s, on a stand up paddle board (SUP), reportedly got pulled away from the main beach by a strong current whilst out at sea paddling.

The strong current pulled him towards the 16 mile beach and in the process he got knocked off his board. He unleashed himself from the board, while using his paddle to push on the bottom, and keeping his head above water. He managed to get into shallower water and call for help.

Bystanders noticed him, and assisted him out of the water, while alerting the See en Sand Lifeguards positioned approximately 500 meters South of where the casualty was assisted out of the water.

The lifeguards secured the patient into a stretcher and carried him to the lifeguard house.

NSRI Yzerfontein responded with the NSRI rescue vehicle to the lifeguard house on the Main Beach where NSRI assisted the lifeguards in stabilising the patient by administering oxygen and monitoring his vitals while waiting for the EMS ambulance to arrive.

Swartland Municipal Law Enforcement attended at the scene to assist.

At 14h25 the patient was transported to hospital by EMS ambulance, in a stable condition, where he is recovering.

NSRI thanks West Coast Medical Services who assisted in keeping NSRI informed on the estimated arrival time of the EMS ambulance and making their own ambulance available that was later no longer required.

PLETTENBERG BAY:

NSRI STN 14 PLETTENBERG BAY:

Friday, 5 January, at 11h02, NSRI Plettenberg Bay were alerted to a craft capsized at Wreck Beach, Robberg Nature Reserve..

While preparing to launch rescue craft it was confirmed that a boat involved in a capsizing at Whale Rock was safely ashore, there were no injuries and no assistance was required.

Then at 13h50, NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew were alerted to a 10 year old local child rescued from the water at Poortjies Beach, Keurbooms River, and in need of medical assistance.

NSRI medics, WC Government Health EMS and Med-Life ambulance services responded.

The child was treated on the scene for non-fatal drowning symptoms and transported to hospital by ambulance in a stable condition where it is believed he recovered and was released.

On Thursday, 21 December, at around 05h00, NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew responded to Central Beach where a man had sustained an injury after a boat motor propellor lacerated his foot.

It appears that while launching to go to sea a wave may have breached the boat as the man was climbing aboard causing him to fall out the boat as the skipper was getting the boat underway when an outboard motor propellor lacerated both lower legs.

NSRI medics stabilised the man and were joined by Medlife ambulance services and the man, age 48, from Johannesburg, was transported to hospital by Medlife ambulance in a stable condition.

PORT ALFRED:

NSRI STN 11 PORT ALFRED:

On Tuesday, 19 December, NSRI Port Alfred launched an NSRI rescue craft to respond up the Kowie River where a sea turtle had been recovered from the water after being struck by a boat propellor.

On NSRI arriving on the scene the sea turtle was taken onboard the NSRI rescue craft and brought to the NSRI station 11 rescue base where a Vet attended and initiated medical care.

The sea turtle was stabilised and transported to Bay World in Gqeberha where the sea turtle is recovering from injuries.

STRAND and ROOI ELS

NSRI STN 9 GORDONS BAY:

Sunday, 14 January, at 19h37, NSRI Gordons Bay duty crew were activated following eye-witness reports of a fisherman appearing to be in difficulty in the surf in front of Blakes, Strand.

NSRI Gordons Bay prepared to launch a rescue craft while NSRI rescue swimmers, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, GB Med Sec Security and GB Med Sec ambulance services responded.

On arrival on the scene it was found that 2 fishermen who were in difficulty in the water were out the water but in need of medical care.

2 male bystander Good Samaritans had assisted the fisherman out of the water and they are commended.

The 2 local men were treated on the scene by paramedics but required no further medical assistance and they were released in good health.

On Saturday, 23 December, at 07h59, NSRI Gordons Bay duty crew were alerted by WC Government Health EMS Metro Control of a man adrift at sea on a sea kayak between Pringle Bay and Gordons Bay.

The 42 year old male, from Kensington, Johannesburg, had contacted Netcare 911 control room requesting help after he found himself being swept out to sea by strong winds.

An NSRI rescue vehicle, an EMS ambulance, an EMS rescue vehicle and a Netcare 911 ambulance scoured the coastline along the R44 coast road but no sign of the paddler could be found.

NSRI Gordons Bay launched an NSRI rescue craft.

Following an extensive search the man was located off-shore of Rooi Els.

The NSRI rescue craft reached the man and rescued him onto the rescue craft while recovering his sea kayak.

He was brought to the Rooi Els boat slipway where he was treated by EMS and Netcare 911 paramedics for hypothermia before being released requiring no further medical assistance.

NSRI are appealing to paddlers, boaters and sailors to download and use the free NSRI SafeTrx smartphone app.

GQEBERHA:

NSRI STN 6 GQEBERHA:

Wednesday, 10 January, at 00h38, NSRI Gqeberha duty crew were placed on alert to prepare for the medical evacuation of foreign sailor, on a container ship, with a medical condition.

NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), NSRI Gqeberha duty controllers, a WC Government Health EMS duty doctor, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, Police Sea Borderline Control and TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Port of Port Elizabeth Port Control, assisted MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) in the logistics and coordination of the medical evacuation operation.

The NSRI rescue craft, Rescue 6 Alpha, was launched.

On arrival on the scene the patient was transferred onto the NSRI rescue craft and brought to our NSRI Gqeberha rescue station and he was transported to hospital for further care.

Tuesday, 9 January, NSRI Gqeberha duty crew and the NMB (Nelson Mandela Bay) watrer rescue network were activated to respond to Hobie Pier following reports of a drowning in progress.

Gardmed ambulance services and NSRI rescue swimmers responded.

On arrival on the scene the local man was out of the water showing signs of non-fatal drowning symptoms.

He was transported to hospital by Gardmed ambulance in a stable condition.

Saturday, 6 January, at 01h56, NSRI Gqeberha duty crew, the SA Police Services, Police divers, EV Government Health EMS, CWR (Coastal Water Rescue) and Gardmed ambulance services responded to the N2 Bridge, Swartkops River, Blue Water Bay, where a vehicle suspected to have 5 occupants onboard plunged into the Swartkops River near to the N2 bridge.

1 man was recovered, not injured, while 3 occupants of the vehicle were initially reported to be missing.

2 NSRI rescue craft and a CWR rescue craft launched.

Following an extensive search there remained no signs of 3 persons suspected to be missing.

Later, an investigation, opened by Police, appears to indicate that there had only been one person in the vehicle, the driver, when it plunged into the water and there were no persons missing, related to this case.

Sunday, 24 December, at 07h00, NSRI Gqeberha launched NSRI rescue craft, accompanied by members of Bay World, to transport to seal pups, that were believed to have been separated from the family, at Seal Island.

The 2 seal pups, rehabilitated at Bay World, in the care of Bay World staff, were released from the NSRI rescue craft at Seal Island and it appeared that they were reunited with their mom.

It is believed that each seal has a unique call that is recognisable by their mother.

DURBAN:

NSRI STN 5 DURBAN:

Sunday, 14 January, NSRI Durban duty crew were activate to assist to right a 5 meter ski-boat, in the Port of Durban, that had capsized on Saturday night with 4 local adult men onboard.

A TMPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) vessel had the rescue the 4 men who were not injured.

Their boat had been towed and tied up to a Pier and later moved to the Police Sea Bordeline moorings where the boat remained in the capsized position.

At 15h06, NSRI Durban crew launched the NSRI rescue vessel Alec Rennie and the casualty boat was righted and recovered.

Saturday, 13 January, NSRI Durban duty crew launched the NSRI rescue vessel Alec Rennie, at 17h15, to assist, at the request of Durban ski-boat club, a ski-boat that lost motor power and were at anchor.

The NSRI rescue craft Alec Rennie was launched.

While proceeding towards the casualty ski-boat NSRI were informed that a fellow ski-boat had taken the casualty craft, with 4 local men onboard, under tow.

NSRI proceeded and rendezvoused with the 2 craft 5 nautical miles from Vetchies Beach launch site.

The casualty ski-boat was safely under tow by a fellow ski-boat.

NSRI accompanied them to Vetchies Beach where the casualty boat was beached and recovered without incident and no further assistance was required.

Thursday, 11 January, at 19h32, NSRI Durban duty crew were activated to medically evacuate a 41 year old Filipino sailor, suffering a medical condition, from a motor vessel off-shore of the Port of Durban.

NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), NSRI Durban duty controllers, a WC Government Health EMS duty doctor, Netcare 911 duty controllers, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, Police Sea Borderline Control and TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Port of Durban Port Control, assisted MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) in the logistics and coordination of the medical evacuation operation.

The NSRI rescue vessel, Alec Rennie, was launched, accompanied by a Netcare 911 rescue technician.

The motor vessel had raised anchor to come closer towards shore where our rescue craft rendezvoused with them.

The patient was transferred onto our rescue craft and in the care of the Netcare 911 paramedic he was brought to our NSRI Durban Station 5 Rescue Base and transported to hospital by Netcare 911 in a stable condition.

Friday, 5 January, at 08h23, NSRI Durban duty crew launched the rescue vessel Alec Rennie to assist a Catamaran sailing yacht, with a husband and wife onboard, sailing from Richards Bay to Durban and requesting a tow after suffering rudder steering failure.

On rendezvousing with the Catamaran a towline was rigged and the Catamaran was towed to a yacht club mooring without incident and no further assistance was required.

Thursday, 21 December NSRI Durban were contacted about a possible medical evacuation of a 55 year old Ukrainian national suffering a medical injury onboard a Motor Vessel heading towards Durban.

The motor vessel, with the patient onboard, receiving medical advice from a WC Government Health EMS duty doctor, had then been diverted, by various Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres, to assist in the SAR (Search and Rescue) operation for a vessel which had caught fire 100 nautical miles off Mozambique.

After having recovering 19 casualties from that vessel that was on fire, from their life-boat (of the vessel that was on fire), the motor vessel continued towards Durban arriving on 29 December at 07h00.

At 06h30 on the 29 December, NSRI Durban launched the NSRI rescue vessel Alec Rennie, accompanied by a Netcare 911 rescue technician, and rendezvoused with the motor vessel 3 nautical miles off the Port of Durban.

The Netcare rescue tech was transferred aboard where the patient, the 55 year old Ukrainian man, was medically assessed and transferred onto our rescue craft.

In the care of the Netcare 911 paramedic he was brought to our NSRI Durban Station 5 Rescue Base and transported to hospital by Netcare 911 ambulance in a stable condition.

NSRI do not have detailed information about the incident of the ship that was on fire off Mozambique.

Friday, 17 December, at 11h00, the NSRI Durban rescue craft Spirit of Surfski 6 was launched to assist a Hout Bay sailing yacht, with a solo sailor onboard, into the Port of Durban.

The yacht had suffered motor failure and required a tow into Port.

On arrival on the scene, at the harbour entrance, a towline was rigged and we towed the yacht to the International moorings where she was moored safely and no further assistance was required.

WILDERNESS:

NSRI STN 23 WILDERNESS:

Monday, 15 January, at 11h26, NSRI Wilderness duty crew, NSRI Wilderness lifeguards, WC Government Health EMS, George Fire and Rescue Services, the SA Police Services and Frontier Medix ambulance services responded to a paraglider accident in a remote area at Wilderness East on the beach front.

A 59 year old German female suffered injuries after it appears she collided into sand dunes.

The patient was treated on the scene by NSRI medics and in a stable condition she was transported off the beach using an NSRI quad bike and a George Fire and Rescue Services ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle).

The patient, in a stable condition, was transported to hospital by a Frontier Medix ambulance for further care.

ARCC (Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre) assisted in the logistics and the coordination of the rescue response.

Saturday, 13 January, at 14h02, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated to assist at Leentjiesklip, at the train tracks, where a 51 year old man was presenting with a medical complaint while fishing from rocks.

The man was treated by NSRI medics while a WC Government Health EMS ambulance was activated.

Following treatment on the scene the man was assisted, walked, to the Leentjiesklip parking area and he required no further assistance.

Tuesday, 9 January, at 11h05, NSRI Wilderness, WC Government Health EMS, George Fire and Rescue Services, the SA Police Services and ER24 ambulance services responded to a paraglider accident to the East of Wilderness.

A 61 year old Netherlands man suffered injuries after it appears he collided into sand dunes.

He was treated on the scene by paramedics and in a stable condition he was transported from the scene, using a George Fire and Rescue Services ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) to a waiting ER24 ambulance that transported the man to hospital in a stable condition.

ARCC (Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre) assisted in the logistics and the coordination of the rescue response.

Thursday, 4 January, at 11h45, NSRI Wilderness, WC Government Health EMS, George Fire and Rescue Services, the SA Police Services and ER24 ambulance services responded to a paraglider accident at Wilderness on the slopes of Wilderness Beach.

A male paraglider was witnessed colliding into trees on the slopes above Leentjiesklip.

While responding to the barely accessible terrain the man was reported to have suffered no injuries and he retrieved his parachute canopy and no further assistance was required.

ARCC (Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre) assisted in the logistics and the coordination of the rescue response.

Tuesday, 2 January, NSRI Wilderness duty crew and NSRI lifeguards were activated to respond to Wilderness Lagoon where a 6 year old male required medical care from following a non-fatal drowning accident..

A WC Government Health EMS response paramedic and ER24 ambulance services were activated.

The local child was treated on the scene and stabilised before being transported to hospital by ER24 ambulance for further medical care.

Sunday, 24 December, NSRI Wilderness duty crew responded to Herolds Bay to assist NSRI lifeguards treating a local 10 year old male for allergies (anaphylaxis) following multiple blue bottle stings.

WC Government Health EMS were activated.

NSRI medics assisted NSRI lifeguards to stabilise the child and on the EMS ambulance arriving on the scene, following further medical care by paramedics, the child was released no further assistance.

Thursday, 21 December, at 07h20, NSRI wilderness duty crew and NSRI lifeguards were activated following reports from NSRI Knysna of a small RHIB (rigid hull inflatable boat) capsized in the surf line at Sedgefield, with a 50 year old local man and his 16 year old son, both spear fishermen, onboard.

It appears that after capsizing they were attempting restart their motors when the vessel capsized again.

NSRI lifeguards reached them in the surf line and assisted the teenager to shore.

NSRI lifeguards stayed with the dad but after the craft again capsized lifeguards assisted the man to shore.

Their RHIB drifted ashore and washed onto the beach and was recovered.

NSRI Wilderness crew launched the NSRI rescue craft Lavinia and Spirit of Rotary.

While responding the NSRI rescue craft were stood down to return to base after it was confirmed the dad and his son were not injured.

Then, at 09h50, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated to assist NSRI lifeguards at Victoria Bay where a 19 year old male teenage surfer had been brought to shore by fellow surfers, assisted by NSRI lifeguards and by body boarders, who had initiated Cardiopulmonary resuscitation efforts while bringing the local teenager to shore.

The teenager had been rescued from underwater by fellow surfers.

Once onshore a doctor, who happened to be there at the time, assisted to provide medical treatment after CPR had been successful while bringing the patient out of the water.

NSRI medics and Frontier Medix ambulance services arrived on the scene where additional medical treatment was provided.

The patient was transported to hospital by Frontier Medix ambulance in a serious but stable condition.

The patient has since recovered in hospital and he has been released from hospital.

All involved are commended for the combined efforts that saved the teenagers life.