When John Oldham heard about a tragic drowning at the small dam on the outskirts of McGregor village in December 2025, he was deeply moved to take action. ...
Easter weekend marked the close of the 2025/2026 NSRI lifeguarding season, wrapping up sustained effort from lifeguards across South Africa’s coastline. Looking back, Lifeguarding Operations Manager Rebecca Carter-Smith describes it as “one of our most demanding, but also one of ...
In December 2024, while visiting family in Kuruman, Reagan Gellant received a phone call that no parent should have – his nine-year-old son suffered a non-fatal drowning incident at Meiringspoort and was being rushed to the hospital. Reagan later learned ...
For many students at Rhodes University, learning to swim has never been a simple or accessible opportunity. Despite the presence of a campus swimming pool, many students have had little or no exposure to swimming lessons or water safety education ...
The NSRI has reached a significant milestone in its long-standing commitment to drowning prevention. By joining an international Public Rescue Equipment (PRE) working group, the NSRI is now part of a global effort to establish shared standards for life-saving equipment ...
When Petro Meyer joined the NSRI on 1 September 2018, she couldn’t have imagined she’d one day be teaching in a swimming pool that arrived inside a shipping container. But her enthusiasm had already put her ahead of the curve. ...
When Gemini Marine began building the first of the new 5.5-metre rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) for the NSRI, destined for Station 14 in Plettenberg Bay, it marked more than a routine fleet upgrade. It reflected a renewed focus on what ...
On 8 December, the still waters of Elandsberg Dam rippled with laughter, courage, and determination. It was the National Sea Rescue Institute’s annual survival swimming exercise for children who graduated from the Riebeek Kasteel Survival Swimming Centre – a day ...
Every summer, thousands of South Africans head to the coast to enjoy the sea. Yet few realise that one of the ocean’s most dangerous forces can form right where they want to swim. ...
Cape Town’s summer coastline is renowned worldwide for its blue waters, consistent winds, and big-air heroics. But beneath the beauty lies the kind of power that commands respect. Following the tragic passing of South African kiteboarder Graham Howes, his family ...
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