First Pink Rescue Buoys installed in Nelson Mandela Bay

The NSRI has reached a new milestone in Nelson Mandela Bay, with the installation of the metro's first three Pink Rescue Buoys at high-risk points around North End Lake, marking the start of a drowning prevention drive for the area's inland waters.

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) today welcomed the installation of the first three Pink Rescue Buoys in Nelson Mandela Bay, marking the start of a drowning prevention initiative for the metro's inland waters. The buoys have been installed at identified high-risk points around North End Lake.

The initiative has been made possible through the sponsorship of the North End Business Cluster, a member cluster of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, whose advocacy was instrumental in bringing the programme to the metro. Installation was carried out with the permission of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality.

A further two Pink Rescue Buoys are set to be installed at Van Stadens River Resort in the coming weeks, sponsored by Buhlebendalo Properties. As further sponsors come on board, the NSRI and its partners plan to extend the rollout to other dams and rivers across the municipal area, bringing this life-saving equipment to inland communities that do not currently have access to it.

The timing is significant, coming a day before World Drowning Prevention Day on 25 July. NSRI stations and community programmes around the country will hold activations to mark the day, highlighting the importance of drowning prevention, water safety education and hands-on CPR. The North End Lake installation forms part of the NSRI's contribution to this national focus on preventable drowning.

Since the Pink Rescue Buoy programme was launched in November 2017, more than 2,100 buoys have been installed at beaches, dams, rivers and swimming spots around South Africa, contributing to more than 260 lives saved through bystander rescues, with no reported harm to rescuers in the process. The bright pink emergency flotation devices are mounted on poles with clear signage explaining how to use them and displaying an NSRI emergency number, allowing members of the public to assist someone in distress in the water without having to enter the water themselves.

"Every Pink Rescue Buoy we install is a direct investment in a community's ability to save its own. Nelson Mandela Bay's inland waters, from the dams to the rivers, present real drowning risks that often go unnoticed until tragedy strikes. We are grateful to the North End Business Cluster for making these first three buoys possible, and to the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber for championing this initiative. We look forward to growing this programme across the metro as more sponsors step forward," said Michael Vonk, NSRI Chief Executive Officer.

"Our volunteers, and the water rescue network partners, regularly respond to incidents at inland water bodies across the metro, and having a Pink Rescue Buoy in those critical first minutes can be the difference when someone's life is at risk. Installing these buoys at North End Lake gives water users, visitors and residents a practical, accessible tool to assist someone in trouble while help is on its way," said Ian Gray, NSRI Eastern Cape Regional Representative.

Commenting on the buoy installation initiative at North End Lake, North End Business Cluster Chairman Geoff Mendelowitz said the lake has long been a landmark in North End, serving as a popular recreational facility in the area.

"We are proud to be part of this initiative and believe these life-saving buoys will play an important role in enhancing safety at the lake. This intervention complements the broader safety programmes we continue to implement in the area, reinforcing our commitment to protecting and supporting businesses and the community," said Geoff Mendelowitz, North End Business Cluster Chairman.

The NSRI has urged residents to look after the newly installed buoys, which should only be removed from their poles in a genuine emergency, and to report any missing or damaged buoys to the NSRI.