Several incidents across the country this weekend

NSRI teams were involved in a series of operations over the weekend, responding to incidents ranging from towing a whale carcass off the Kommetjie coast to assisting in rescue efforts in East London and on the KZN South Coast.

HOUT BAY:
 
Spencer Oldham, NSRI Hout Bay station commander, said:
 
On Saturday, 16 November, at 09h11, NSRI Hout Bay duty crew were activated to assist the CoCT (City of Cape Town) Marine Animal Stranding Network and the Department of Environment with a Humpback whale carcass that was adrift offshore of Slangkop Lighthouse, Kommetjie.
 
The NSRI rescue craft Albie Matthews and Nadine Gordimer were launched and the whale carcass was towed by NSRI Hout Bay to the Hout Bay Harbour slipway where the carcass has been removed, on Sunday, by the CoCT Solid Waste Management, assisted by CoCT Law Enforcement, the SA Police Services and Cape Town Traffic Department.
 
A large pod of dolphins accompanied NSRI during the towing operation.
 
EAST LONDON:
 
Catherine Prentis, NSRI East London station commander, said:
 
NSRI East London duty crew were activated at 14h19, Sunday, 17 November, following eyewitness reports of a drowning in progress at Cove Rock, West of East London.
 
The NSRI rescue craft Spirit of DHL was prepared to be launched while NSRI rescue swimmers and our NSRI East London rescue vehicle responded to the scene.
 
While responding to the scene it was reported that an adult male, a family member, who had gone into the water to rescue 2 children, and both male children were safely out of the water after reportedly 2 fishermen had gone into the water to assist.
 
Our NSRI rescue vehicle continued to respond to the scene and Priority Care ambulance services were activated.
 
The adult male was transported to hospital by Priority Care ambulance for observation for non-fatal drowning symptoms.
 
The mom, of one of the children, followed the ambulance to hospital to have the 2 children medically checked.
 
KZN SOUTH COAST:
 
Melodie Herrmann, NSRI Shelly Beach duty controller, said:
 
At 05h22, Sunday, 17 November, NSRI Shelly Beach and KZN Surf Rescue Network were activated to reports from a local fisherman of a suspected drowning in progress at South Port Anerley Beach.
 
On arrival on the scene it could not be confirmed if anyone was missing and a drowning accident could not be confirmed.
 
The fisherman is commended for alerting NSRI, lifeguards and the emergency services when he suspected that a man may have been in difficulty in the water.
 
Police K9 Search and Rescue will continue to monitor but it appears that this may have been a false alarm with good intentions.