The coastal resort town of Scottburgh is home to the Rocky Bay crew, situated on the mouth of the Mpambanyoni River.

“I have always been involved in rescue work,” says Station Commander Kevin Fourie, “and had always wanted to volunteer with the NSRI. Finally, the opportunity came when I was approached to open a base in Rocky Bay in 2017, and the rest is history.”

The base building was built and officially completed the very next year, in 2018, and its crew has since received four NSRI excellence awards, including Most Improved Station in 2020, and more recently the Meritorious Service Award for their rescue efforts during the KwaZulu-Natal floods.

“The most common rescues we receive call-outs for include capsized ski vessels, paddleskiers in distress, and yachts requiring assistance. My most memorable rescues occurred during the floods in April 2022, where we were called out to rescue hundreds of people stranded in houses and factories in Isipingo.”

Kevin and his crew have a passion for rescue work, operating under pressure in challenging environments, and family values. “I am proud to say I have a fantastic group of dedicated volunteers who go above and beyond in their efforts to save lives on South African waters. We are a small station with a big heart and work together as a family unit. This has been a wonderful opportunity for me to offer all the skills I have learnt over the many years and to share my knowledge with our sea rescue crew.”