Volunteer At This Station
After years of research, design, local boatbuilding and fundraising, the National Sea Rescue Institute's (NSRI) newest Offshore Rescue Craft (ORC), Spirit of Ubuntu, has completed her journey from Table Bay and arrived at her new home at Station 8 Hout Bay.
NSRI Hermanus assists two teenagers after sea kayak capsizes off Hardebaai, Onrus
NSRI Hermanus duty crew were placed on alert following calls to the NSRI Hermanus duty phone and to NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) from ships agents reporting a medical emergency onboard a container motor vessel - on the Cape South Coast, offshore of Agulhas National Park, with the vessel heading in the direction towards Walker Bay.
Earlier this month, Rescue 4, a new Offshore Rescue Craft (ORC) built for NSRI Station 4, Mykonos, went into the water for her sea trials – the final proving ground before she begins saving lives off the West Coast. Worth R52 million together with her brand-new base, Rescue 4 represents a generational investment in maritime safety. Through the Celebrate a Life campaign, supporters can now be part of every launch.
On Saturday, 21 February, NSRI Hermanus duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from 4 local men onboard a RHIB (rigid hull inflatable boat) reporting motor mechanical failure.
A Zimbabwean man, aged 26, has gone missing, reportedly while wading in the Bot River Lagoon.
A teenager is missing at Palmiet Lagoon, and in a separate incident police are appealing for any information that may shed light on an event at Draadbaai in Betty’s Bay, where it is suspected that two men may have been swept off the rocks by waves.
Send us your favourite photograph of NSRI people doing what we do, and you could win an NSRI shop voucher worth R250!
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.
James Janse van Rensburg, NSRI Hermanus duty coxswain, said: At 06h26, Thursday, 25 December, NSRI Hermanus duty crew were activated following eyewitness reports of a dog appearing to be in distress swimming in the Hermanus New Harbour.
Jean le Roux, NSRI Hermanus coxswain, said: At 14h40, Thursday, 18 December, NSRI Hermanus duty crew were activated following reports of a person observed appearing to be unresponsive floating face down in the sea offshore of Schulphoek, Hermanus.
Condolences are conveyed to family and friends of a local 17 year old male sadly deceased following a drowning accident near to the Hermanus New Harbour.
When Schalk Boonzaaier was four years old, his life’s path revealed itself in the most unexpected way.
Police divers (WPDS - Water Policing and Diving Services) will continue in ongoing search efforts for a local 25 year old male who went missing off a boat near to Hawston Harbour, between Hermanus and Kleinmond, on Friday.
Police WPDS (Water Policing and Diving Services) are continuing in ongoing search efforts for a male teenager who went missing at Hawston Beach while swimming.
For nearly six decades, the NSRI has stood as a symbol of South Africans helping South Africans, powered by ordinary people who volunteer their time and risk their lives to save others.
Mark McLagan, NSRI Hermanus duty coxswain, said: At 10h57, Saturday, 11 October, NSRI Hermanus duty crew were activated following eyewitness reports of 2 males, with one body board, appearing to be in distress offshore of Onrus Main Beach, beyond the back breakers, appearing to be caught in sea currents.
Edrich Kotze, NSRI Hermanus station commander, said: At 17h17, Thursday, 11 September, NSRI Hermanus duty crew were activated following reports from ADT Security reporting that they were on the scene of a person in distress along rocks near to the New Harbour, Hermanus.
Lando Lombard, NSRI Hermanus deputy station commander, said: At 13h53, Saturday, 6 September, NSRI Hermanus, while at sea conducting routine training exercises, diverted 2 NSRI rescue craft, Leonard Smith and Rescue 17 Bravo, to respond to the Old Harbour, Hermanus, following eyewitness reports of a drowning in progress.
NATIONAL: In 4 operations - A fishing craft, with 5 local fishermen onboard, was saved from sinking by NSRI Gordons Bay, offshore of Strand - A sailing yacht, with 2 crew onboard, was assisted by NSRI Gordons Bay after stranding on a sand bank near to Gordons Bay Harbour - A kite boarder, assisted by a Good Samaritan on a kayak on the Klein River Lagoon, were assisted ashore by NSRI Hermanus - and A sailing yacht, drifting shorewards with 7 crew onboard, was safely towed by NSRI Richards Bay to the Zululand Yacht Club in heavy sea conditions. The swift response and cooperation of all involved in these operations is commended.
MOSSEL BAY: 2 young female children were rescued from the surf zone while swimming with friends at Diaz Beach 2, Mossel Bay.
PEARLY BEACH: Jean le Roux, NSRI Hermanus coxswain, said: At 18h07, Thursday, 3 April, NSRI Hermanus, NSRI Agulhas, the SA Police Services and a WC Government Health EMS rescue squad responded to Castle Beach at Pearly Beach following reports of a suspected drowning in progress.
At 12h40, Saturday, 15 March, NSRI Hermanus duty crew, while recovering rescue craft from a routine training exercise at NSRI Hermanus station 17 rescue base, were activated following eyewitness reports of a craft appearing to be capsized, with people at the casualty craft appearing to be hanging onto the upturned hull, offshore between Vermont and Hawston, Hermanus.
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.
SAFETY ALERT: NSRI and the emergency services are appealing to the public to take caution around the coastline as storm seas, coupled with the new moon Spring tide that peaks on Tuesday, the 3rd September, will contribute to dangerous sea conditions around the South African coastline. Spring tide and rough seas (caused by recent cold fronts and deep sea storms) may cause stronger than normal rip currents. Some areas around the coast may be cut off from mainland during the Spring high tide. Paddlers, boaters, sailors, bathers, coastal hikers and shoreline anglers are urged to heed to extreme caution during this Spring tide phase that will reduce in intensity towards the end of the first week of September.
On Friday, 28 June, the SA Whale Disentanglement Network (SAWDN) was alerted to a whale appearing to be in distress, entangled in what appeared to be a fishing line, off-shore in the Walker Bay area, Hermanus.
At 12h57, Thursday, 20 June, NSRI Hermanus duty crew were activated following eyewitness reports of a drowning in progress at Skulphoek, Hermanus.
NSRI COMMUNICATIONS in cooperation with MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) and SAMSA (South African Maritime Safety Authority):
An extensive search operation is ongoing for 6 adult male fishermen, believed to be from Hout Bay and from Hawston, who remain overdue and missing at sea onboard a grey Ballistic 7.8 meter RHIB (rigid hull inflatable boat) name “Berta Fishing Experience”.
Police are investigating a case at the Hermanus old harbour where clothing, a cellphone and other items were discovered on the shore.
Three recent animal rescues were cause for celebration... The NSRI is always available to help our aquatic friends to safety.
The Western Cape experienced widespread flooding towards the end of September: lives and homes were lost. Here, a few of the NSRI volunteers who participated in the rescue effort reflect on the experience.
Just after 04h00, Sunday, 15 October, NSRI were alerted to a 73 year old fisherman on a fishing boat suffering a medical complaint deep-sea off-shore between Agulhas and Hermanus.
NSRI Gordons Bay duty crew were activated following reports of a man on an SUP waving for help after being blown out to sea off-shore of Whale Point.
STRAND and GORDONS BAY: Early Monday morning, 25 September, NSRI Gordons Bay rescue swimmers, GB Med Sec ambulance services and Police responded to Kays Caravan Park in Strand where multiple residents were evacuated from the caravan park.
Here is a weekly news report on some of the rescues that took place: NSRI Mykonos assist a capsized jet-ski; An NSRI rescue swimmer uses an NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy to save two swimmers caught in rip currents at Langebaan; NSRI Strandfontein assist a yacht with rudder failure; NSRI Mossel Bay, Police and the emergency services assist a man from the surf at Die Poort; NSRI Simonstown and City of Cape Town Law Enforcement Marine officers investigate an overdue fishing boat; NSRI EOC, assisted by an off duty NSRI Table Bay crewman, investigate 2 children that went missing at Muizenberg Beach; NSRI Hermanus tow a whale carcass away from the coastline
In Strand: NSRI Gordon's Bay responds to kite surfer in difficulty and two lives saved when a boat capsizes. Also at Shelly Beach: a local dive charter boat with steering mechanical failure assisted. Additionally, at Clifton: NSRI Bakoven and NSRI Table Bay responded to a drowning in progress. Furthermore in Hermanus: successful rescues at dangerous estuary mouth breach at the Klein River Lagoon. Lastly, in Durban: Vasco Da Gama Ocean race 23 - yacht Anna Wardley assisted.
On Tuesday, 21 March, at 17h20, NSRI Hermanus duty crew and the SA Police Services were activated following eye-witness reports of 3 men swept by waves into the surf off rocks on the shoreline in front of the Windsor Hotel, central Hermanus.
On Saturday, 10 September, NSRI Hermanus, while conducting routine maintenance at our NSRI Hermanus rescue station were alerted by public members of a seal, witnessed in amongst the Dolosse, in and around the new harbour, with a rope entangled around the seals neck.