Mark McLagan, NSRI Hermanus Coxswain, said: At 15h36 on Thursday, 1 January, NSRI Hermanus duty crew were activated following reports from Overstrand lifeguards at Grotto Beach, who had launched a surf rescue operation for an adult male caught in rip currents.
The NSRI rescue vehicle and Western Cape Government Health EMS responded.
On arrival at the scene, an adult male, believed to be a local man, was treated for non-fatal drowning symptoms and was transported to the hospital by EMS ambulance in a stable condition.
At 18h46, NSRI Hermanus duty crew were again activated following eyewitness reports of a drowning in progress at Grotto Beach.
NSRI rescue swimmers, Overstrand Law Enforcement, Overstrand lifeguards, and Western Cape Government Health EMS responded to the scene, where a search commenced for a teenager reported missing in the surf zone.
During the search, the 18-year-old male from Helderstroom was located on the beach suffering non-fatal drowning symptoms.
NSRI and lifeguards assisted in securing the teenager into a Stokes basket stretcher, and he was carried across the beach to a waiting ambulance.
The teenager was transported to the hospital by EMS ambulance in a stable condition.
Three Separate Drowning Incidents in Plettenberg Bay
Read More
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) encourages South Africans to use National Wills Week, from 14 to 18 September 2026, to draft or update their wills and consider leaving a legacy gift that will help save lives for generations to come. ...
National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Hout Bay volunteer crew recovered a Hout Bay Yacht Club (HBYC) racing buoy at sea on Saturday, 5 September, after it broke free from its mooring and was swept out into Hout Bay in gale ...
NSRI Wilderness responded, together with Police and emergency services, to a report of a man trapped in the Touw River, Wilderness, in the early hours of Friday, 4 September. ...