NSRI's Swift Actions in Plettenberg Bay and Knysna

NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew were placed on alert following confirmation that NSRI coast watchers, from Natures Valley, were responding to assist a German couple, and their toddler, in a gorge on the Kalander kloof Trail, near to Natures Valley.

NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew were placed on alert following confirmation that NSRI coast watchers, from Natures Valley, were responding to assist a German couple, and there toddler, in a gorge on the Kalander kloof Trail, near to Natures Valley.

The lady had reportedly suffered an injury.

NSRI Plettenberg Bay alerted a former Mountain Club of South Africa member, who lives in the area and who is familiar with the trail, and he responded.

NSRI Plettenberg Bay rescue crew were activated and responded to join our NSRI coast watcher team on the scene.

While responding a heavy downpour with hail came through escalating the response and an NSRI Plettenberg Bay swift water rescue team was placed on high alert as a precaution.

On reaching the couple they were found to be on the trail in a gorge. The heavy rain had not caused any flash flooding.

Medical treatment was provided to the lady who was stable and walking wounded.

The quickest extrication, rather than walking them out along the trail, was up a slope along the gorge.

A high angle technical rope rigging system was established which made it easier to get the young couple and their toddler up the slope.

In a technical rescue operation they were successfully brought out of the gorge and we transported them to hospital, in Plettenberg Bay, where the lady is receiving medical care and is expected to make a full recovery.

NSRI commend the swift response.

KNYSNA

NSRI STN 12 KNYSNA:

Jerome Simonis, NSRI Knysna station commander, said:

At 14h40, Monday, 4 March, NSRI Knysna duty crew were activated following reports of a Lagoon charter vessel in distress in the Knysna Heads with mechanical engine failure.

The NSRI Knysna rescue craft JayTee IV was launched while SA National Parks (SANParks) rangers responded in their SANParks vessel and NSRI Knysna crew responded to the shoreline.

On arrival on the scene the casualty vessel was found to have gently drifted onto the rocks on the Eastern Head.

With help from members of the public the two passengers and two crew had managed to disembark from the vessel onto the shoreline.

Two NSRI rescue swimmers were deployed into the water from our rescue craft - they swam to the shoreline and medically assessed the casualties.

No injuries were sustained, the 2 passengers and crew were walked back to our NSRI station 12 rescue base where they were further assisted.

A private local ski-boat was able to get a towline onto the vessel and they towed the vessel off the rocks into deeper water and the casualty craft was towed back to Leisure Isle harbour without incident.

The 2 passenger casualties that were assisted were a male and female, both tourists visiting from the USA (United States of America), holidaying in Knysna.

The swift response and the assistance of the private boat is commended.