Multiple incidents around the coastline and inland/ NSRI lifeguards deployed early across beaches along the Southern Cape Coast:

NSRI, lifeguards, Police and the emergency services have attended to multiple rescue operations over the past weeks, including sadly an increase in drowning accidents around the coastline and on inland waters.

NSRI, lifeguards, Police and the emergency services, are appealing to the public to swim at beaches protected by lifeguards. Always have safety top of mind in and around coastal waters, on inland waters – rivers, lakes and dams, and your swimming pool at home should be cloaked in preventative safety measures.
 
We appeal to parents and carers to ensure children have responsible and sober adult supervision in and around water.
 
NSRI are appealing to bathers to refrain from swimming under the influence of alcohol.
 
NSRI are appealing to boaters, paddlers and sailors to download and always use the NSRI SafeTrx free smartphone application and to have safety equipment at the ready always while out on your craft on the water.
 
The NSRI Pink Rescue Buoys have again stepped in, playing a critical role in aiding in bystander rescue operations, most recently at Kleinmond and at Port Alfred.
To date, since the introduction of the NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy program in 2017, to our knowledge, there have been 199 lives saved in successful bystander Good Samaritan rescues, using NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy’s, on South African waters. No harm has come to any of the Good Samaritan’s who used the pink buoys in these rescues.
 
NSRI are appealing to coastal hikers to be well prepared and to always be cautious of hiking trails that can be deceptive in distance and difficult terrain. At high tide coastal hiking trails can be obstructed.
 
We are also asking coastal shoreline anglers to be aware of the incoming high tide and never turn your back on the sea while fishing from the shoreline. Have safety top of mind.

NSRI commend the assistance of the emergency services, Police, Law Enforcement, Municipal authorities, associated lifesaving services and the joint operations cooperation between all services that contribute top preventing emergencies and attending to emergencies.

NSRI commend the media for your combined efforts, tirelessly broadcasting and publishing our safety alerts. You can be immensely proud of your contribution that saves lives.

The public at large are commended for their assistance during unfolding emergency operations.

LET'S KEEP EACH OTHER SAFE.

KLEINMOND:
 
At Kleinmond on Saturday, 26 October, at 16h00, a local resident used an NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy to rescue a man from the water at Main Beach, Kleinmond. The casualty was caught in rip currents. NSRI Kleinmond had not been activated but it was later confirmed that the casualty had required no further assistance. The Good Samaritan was commended for his efforts.
Then at 18h00, Saturday, 26 October, NSRI Kleinmond were activated to reports of a drowning in progress. A local male bystander Good Samaritan used an NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy to reach a casualty male in the water, keeping him afloat. 3 NSRI Kleinmond rescue swimmers, used their personal rescue buoys and an additional NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy, to reach them in the mid surf break and the casualty man was brought safely ashore. The casualty required no further assistance.
 
PORT ALFRED:
 
At Port Alfred, on 24 November, at 12h56, NSRI Port Alfred responded to Kelly’s Beach following reports of a drowning in progress. A local female had been caught in rip currents while swimming with her bother and a friend – they are all local teenagers. The friend had gone to her assistance while her brother collected an NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy on the beach armed with the NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy he reached them in the mid surf break using the buoy keeping them both afloat. A local man, bystander Good Samaritan, working at a Construction site at the beachfront, then also entered the water with an NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy and between them they were all able to get out of the water safely.
 
GQEBERHA:
 
On Thursday, 21 November, at 11h40, NSRI Gqeberha dispatched 3 NSRI rescue craft and the NSRI rescue vehicle to initiate a search for 2 fishermen reported to be missing offshore of Noordhoek. Telkom Maritime Radio Services assisted to broadcast an all ships alert while NSRI Gqeberha duty controllers, NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) and NSRI Headquarters duty controllers plotted search patterns, using advanced technology.
In an extensive search and rescue operation NSRI Gqeberha located the 2 fishermen adrift on a small fishing boat at 22h26 offshore in Algoa Bay. Their craft had suffered motor failure. They were brought safely ashore to be reunited with family and friends in an emotional reunion.
The perseverance and efforts of NSRI Gqeberha in this successful extensive search and rescue operation is commended.
 
ROCKY BAY:
 
On Sunday, 24 November, at 08h35, NSRI Rocky Bay responded to the Rocky Bay Caravan Park following reports of a drowning in progress. The 2 NSRI rescue craft, Megan II and Rescue 39 Alpha, on a training exercise, were diverted to respond to the scene where a female, age 62, had reached the shoreline after being caught in rip currents. NSRI rescue swimmers were deployed from the rescue craft to swim to shore where they initiated medical treatment on the lady who was in a serious condition suffering lacerations and non-fatal drowning symptoms. The lady was taken to the NSRI Rocky Bay station 39 rescue base where medical treatment was continued. She was transported to hospital by Umdoni ambulance services in a serious condition and she has since recovered and been discharged from hospital.
 
LLANDUDNO:
 
On Saturday, 23 November, at 16h50, NSRI Bakoven and NSRI Hout Bay, along with the CoCT (City of Cape Town) water rescue network, dispatched rescue craft and rescue resources to Llandudno Beach following reports of 3 people appearing to be in distress.
It appears that a man had jumped off rocks into the water and appeared to be injured after getting out of the water. 2 open water swimmers had assisted the man by swimming him out to sea and around rocks towards the beach. Llandudno Surf lifeguards were alerted and they had entered the water, using a Malibu Rescue Board, and they took over and brought the man to shore where he was attended to by paramedics at the Llandudno Surf Lifesaving Club and he required no further assistance.
It was reported by Llandudno Surf lifeguards that earlier they had rescued a teenager from the water at Llandudno Beach after he had been caught in rip currents while swimming and he required no further assistance.
 
KNYSNA. BUFFELS BAY, SEDGEFIELD, WILDERNESS, VICTORIA BAY, HEROLDS BAY, LEENTJIESKLIP:
 
NSRI lifeguards were deployed early, volunteered by NSRI Headquarters in cooperation with NSRI lifeguard management and local Municipalities, at beaches at Buffels Bay, Sedgefield Mouth and Myoli Beach, this past weekend, Saturday 23 November, and Sunday 24 November, where, here, the NSRI lifeguards attended to 84 preventive incidents and 9 rescues where bathers were caught in rip currents before being rescued from the water by the NSRI lifeguards.

Then at Wilderness, Victoria Bay, Herolds Bay and Leentjiesklip, NSRI lifeguards recorded at Victoria Bay, 90 preventative actions. At Herold's Bay, 63 preventative actions. At Leentjiesklip, 45 preventative actions. At Wilderness Beach, 25 preventative actions with 1 female swimmer who self rescued after being caught in rip currents. A total of 223 Preventative Actions by NSRI lifeguards were attended to across these beaches.

NSRI lifeguard preventative rescue operations along the Southern Cape Coast has highlighted the immense value NSRI lifeguards are contributing to preventing drownings at beaches.
NSRI lifeguards proactive measures not only prevented numerous potential emergencies but also reinforced the importance of their presence as the summer season begins.
The NSRI lifeguards who participated in these deployments are commended for preventing injuries or fatalities to bathers.
 
RICHARDS BAY:
 
On Sunday, 24 November, at 11h31, NSRI Richards Bay dispatched a rescue craft to South of Richards Bay, 2^nd Lagoon, following reports from the crew aboard a helicopter who raised the alarm after they had noticed a boat capsized in the surf zone with one man onboard, while flying overhead.
On arrival on the scene the man was found safe on the beach. An NSRI rescue swimmer was deployed from the rescue craft and he assisted the man, who was not injured, to recover his boat onto a trailer and no further assistance was required.
 
HERMANUS:
 
On Sunday, 24 November, at around 14h45, NSRI Hermanus were placed on alert after 2 men on a pencil duck were overdue at Gansbaai. While deploying rescue craft to initiate a search the 2 men were located by a private vessel that towed them to shore without incident and no further assistance was required.
 
STORMS RIVER:
 
On Tuesday, 26 November, NSRI Storms River and NSRI Oyster Bay responded to the Storms River waterfall trail to assist SA National Parks (SANParks) rangers at an incident where a 52 year old German man had suffered injuries in a fall while hiking. The man, in a stable condition, was walked to the Storms River parking area, in the care of SANParks rangers and NSRI crew, and he went to hospital by private transport for further medical care.
 
PLETTENBERG BAY:
 
On Saturday, 9 November, NSRI Plettenberg Bay launched rescue craft and crew responded to Robberg Nature Reserve Trail where they assisted a 50 year old German man who suffered breathing difficulties while hiking. He was brought to the NSRI Plettenberg bay station 14 rescue base aboard the NSRI rescue craft Ray Farnham Rescuer where he was reunited with friends and family, and he required no further assistance.
 
On Thursday, 14 November, NSRI Plettenberg Bay responded tro Fredericks Board walk, where a 70 year old man was suffering exhaustion during a walk. NSRI transported the man to his home and he required no further assistance.
 
On Wednesday, 20 November, NSRI Plettenberg Bay launched rescue craft and crew responded to Robberg Nature Reserve Trail where, assisted by SA National Parks rangers, NSRI assisted a German lady who suffered an injury while hiking. Secured onto a floating stretcher she was swum out to the NSRI rescue craft Ray Farnham Rescuer and brought to the NSRI Plettenberg bay station 14 rescue base where she was taken into the care of Medlife ambulance services and transported to hospital for further care.
 
On Thursday, 21 November, NSRI Plettenberg Bay responded to the Robberg Nature Reserve to assist ER24 ambulances services on a scene where a lady, age 64, from Germany, had suffered an injury while hiking. The lady, secured into a Stokes basket stretcher, was hiked to the car park and transported to hospital by ER24 ambulance, in a stable condition, for further care.
 
On Saturday, 23 November, NSRI Plettenberg Bay launched rescue craft and crew responded to Robberg Nature Reserve Trail where they assisted a German man who suffered exhaustion while hiking. He was brought to the NSRI Plettenberg bay station 14 rescue base aboard the NSRI rescue craft Ray Farnham Rescuer where he was reunited with friends and family and he required no further assistance.
 
NSRI Plettenberg Bay and Bitou lifeguards are continuing to keep a sharp lookout assisting Police who are investigating the disappearance of an 18 year old male and 21 year old male who failed to return from fishing, reportedly on Sunday 17 November, on the Bitou River.
NSRI were
Despite search efforts by Police WPDS (Water Policing and Diving Services) there remains no signs of the 2 fishermen. A private helicopter, volunteered to assist in the search by Duran de Villiers, assisted in extensive search efforts but the 2 fishermen are reported to be missing. Thoughts are with the families in this difficult time.
 
DURBAN:
 
On Monday, 25 November, at 19h15, NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) received a request from MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) to prepare for a medical evacuation of a 38 year old Chinese male with a medical complaint from a motor vessel bulk carrier.
The vessel was scheduled to be offshore the Port of Durban in the early morning of the 26 November.
NSRI Durban station 5 were alerted and plans were made for the medical evacuation to be undertaken at first light.
The NSRI rescue vessel Alick Rennie was put to sea at 04h00, Tuesday, 26 November, and rendezvoused with the vessel approximately 10 Nautical Miles offshore of the Port of Durban.
In calm sea conditions a rescue paramedic, from Red Line Ambulance services, and two NSRI MEX (Maritime Extrication) crew were transferred onboard the vessel.
After medical assessment by the paramedic it was determined that the casualty would be evacuated via the pilots ladder and a safety line was established and the casualty transferred safely onboard the rescue craft Alick Rennie.
After recovering the paramedic and NSRI crew the Alick Rennie returned to the Port of Durban at 05H45 where the patient was handed over to a Red Line ambulance services and transported to hospital in a stable condition.