NSRI Jeffreys Bay and NSRI Gqeberha support Kouga River medical evacuation

NSRI crews from Jeffreys Bay and Gqeberha joined emergency services at the Kouga River near Patensie on Sunday afternoon to help evacuate an injured woman across the swollen river.

At 15h45, NSRI Jeffreys Bay and NSRI Gqeberha duty crews were activated after Kouga Fire and Rescue Services requested assistance. Fire and Rescue Services and EC Government Health EMS were responding to an adult female with an injury on a local farm near the Kouga Dam, and help was needed to get her across the swollen river.

The EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter was on alert, but low cloud cover was preventing an air extraction at that stage.

NSRI rescue swimmers responded with the NSRI Jeffreys Bay and NSRI Gqeberha rescue vehicles, towing rescue craft and accompanied by NSRI CROCS (small floating rescue craft). An NSRI crewman from Patensie also responded to assist.

As the afternoon progressed, the cloud lifted and EMS Metro Control dispatched the Skymed helicopter. NSRI crew remained on stand-by with emergency services while the helicopter airlifted the patient across the river.

The patient was taken to hospital by EMS ambulance in a stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery.

NSRI crews returned to base at 19h50.

Kristo Kritzinger, NSRI Jeffreys Bay station commander, commended the swift response, the cooperation of all services on the scene and the care given to the patient.

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