Justin Erasmus, NSRI Gqeberha station commander, said: On Saturday morning, 18 May, at around 11h07, NSRI Gqeberha duty crew, while monitoring fishing craft launching for a local fishing competition, we activated 2 of our rescue craft to assist following a ski-boat, with 4 crew onboard, capsized by a wave in the surf zone during their launching to go to sea.
All 4 casualty crew were in the water.
An NSRI rescue craft, nearby at the time, rescued all 4 local adult men from the water. They were then transferred onto the second NSRI rescue craft that arrived on the scene.
The 4 casualty crew, not injured, were brought safely to shore and they required no medical assistance.
NSRI rescue craft returned to the scene where the casualty craft had washed onto rocks and was recovered by NSRI and brought to the Noordhoek ski-boat club without incident.
The rescue operation to recover the 4 men from the water took 4 minutes from when the casualty craft capsized.
The swift response is commended.
PORT SHEPSTONE, KZN SOUTH COAST:
Melody Herrmann, NSRI Shelly Beach duty controller, said:
At 16h41, Monday, 20 May, NSRI Shelly Beach duty crew were activated following reports of a small private single motor craft capsized at the Mzimkhulu River Mouth, Port Shepstone, with one local man, the solo occupant, reported to be being swept out to sea and in the water with his casualty craft.
The NSRI rescue craft Spirit of Dawn was launched, accompanied by our NSRI crew member who is a paramedic with Med-Evac ambulance services, while NSRI rescue swimmers, the SA Police Services, Police Search and Rescue, DRM (Disaster Risk Management), Ray Nkonyeni Fire and Rescue Services and KwaZulu Private ambulance services responded.
On arrival on the scene, the solo skipper, wearing a life-jacket, was found to be paddling his craft towards the shoreline. The man's son had launched a surfboard to go to assist his dad in the water.
They reached rocks along the shoreline where public members assisted them to get out of the water and onto the rocks.
The casualty craft washed ashore onto the beach and was recovered.
Paramedics medically attended to the man, aged in his 50's, and following some medical treatment he required no further assistance.
NSRI commend the swift response and we commend the son who assisted his dad.
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