Volunteer At This Station
On the shortest day of the year, hundreds of NSRI volunteers, supporters, families and friends stepped into icy water with purpose, taking part in the annual Winter Solstice Plunge for a Purpose.
Jonathan Britton, NSRI Wilderness station commander, said: At 12h49, Tuesday, 23 June, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress along the shoreline, near Pacaltsdorp, between Victoria Bay and Herolds Bay.
NSRI Wilderness and NSRI Mossel Bay duty crews were activated following reports of a local fisherman reportedly swept off rocks by waves in the vicinity of Voelklip, Herolds Bay, while shoreline angling.
NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated Wednesday following reports of a drowning in progress at Herolds Bay.
An Austrian man is sadly deceased following a fatal-drowning accident at Wilderness on Saturday.
Jonathan Britton, NSRI Wilderness station commander, said: At 16h13, Monday, 15 December, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated following reports of a local man swept off rocks by waves while (we believe) gathering fishing bait, with friends, on the coastline near to Thembalethu, George.
Jonathan Britton, NSRI Wilderness station commander, said: At 13h12, Sunday, 7 December, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated following reports from the George Municipal NSRI lifeguards at Leentjiesklip, Wilderness Beach, who were responding to 2 persons in distress in the surf zone - both casualties appeared to be caught in rip currents.
Jonathan Britton, NSRI Wilderness station commander, said: At 15h13, Wednesday, 26 November, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated following reports from an eyewitness of a drowning in progress at Herolds Bay.
Jonathan Britton, NSRI Wilderness station commander, said: At 11h08, Monday, 24 November, NSRI Wilderness, and our NSRI satellite station at Sedgefield, duty crews and NSRI lifeguards, as well as the local Sedgefield water safety network, were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Myoli Beach, Sedgefield.
At the start of September, ten aspiring coxswains packed their gear and set off on a two-week journey that would take them the length of South Africa’s coastline. From Melkbosstrand to Mdumbi, the country’s newest Class 4 Coxswain course unfolded not in a classroom, but on the water itself.
Jonathan Britton, NSRI Wilderness station commander, said: At 11h09, Sunday, 12 October, while conducting routine training exercises, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated following eyewitness reports of a man reportedly in the water in distress at Flat Rock, Wilderness Main Beach.
At 14h23, Sunday, 28 September, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated following reports from NSRI lifeguards at Victoria Bay, George, of a drowning in progress.
WILDERNESS: Ian Gerber, NSRI Wilderness duty coxswain, said: At 15h38, Friday, 27 June, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from a local mom reporting her 2 children and their grandfather trapped by the Spring high tide on rocks at Flat Rock, Wilderness.
In a challenging rescue operation on the Kaaimans River, Station 23 Wilderness, alongside partner emergency services, showcased the power of training, teamwork, and dedication to ensuring the safety of individuals in distress.
Wilderness – [16 April] NSRI lifeguard Channah van Coller has been formally recognised for her courageous rescue of a swimmer in distress at Wilderness Beach earlier this year. The NSRI Chief Executive Officer’s Letter of Appreciation was presented to Channah by NSRI CEO Mike Vonk during a ceremony held in her honour at the NSRI Wilderness Sea Rescue base on Wednesday, 16 April.
At 17h54, Sunday, 6 April, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated following reports from the kloofing companion of a man with a medical condition, with a kloofing party on an informal canyon river gorge kloofing expedition on the river, about 1.5 kilometers upstream from the N2 bridge on the Kaaimans River upstream from Map of Africa.
Jonathan Britton, NSRI Wilderness station commander, said: At 16h10, Wednesday, 8 January, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from George Municipal NSRI lifeguards who were engaged in a surf rescue operation at Herolds Bay.
NSRI – Sedgefield – Tuesday, 17 December. Update: Body located and recovered by Police divers: UPDATE: SEDGEFIELD. Police WPDS (Water Policing and Diving Services), during an ongoing search operation, on Monday, 16 December, Police divers, assisted by SAPS COP (Community Orientated Policing) volunteers, and NSRI Wilderness crew, located and recovered a body at Sedgefield.
There were multiple incidents across the country between the period of Thursday 28 November and Tuesday 3 December including responses to a distress signal, the rescues of a border collie and turtle, and the assistance of a solo sailor.
Darren Zimmerman, NSRI Simonstown duty controller, said: At 17h19, Saturday, 30 November, NSRI Simonstown duty crew and CMR (Cape Medical Response) ambulance services were activated following eyewitness reports to NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) requesting medical assistance for a non-fatal drowning at Clovelly corner.
Thoughts, care and compassion are with the families of 2 local males, age 20 and age 17, who went missing on Saturday early evening at Victoria Bay, George, reportedly while swimming. A search that commenced on Saturday early evening is ongoing.
Mike Vonk, NSRI Wilderness station commander, said: At 14h29, Saturday, 24 August, NSRI Wilderness were alerted to reports of a fisherman fallen and injured at Gwaing, near to George.
Several incidents took place across the Southern Cape including Wilderness, Port Alfred, Storms River and Saldanha Bay.
Mike Vonk, NSRI Wilderness station commander, said: At 14h50, Saturday, 10 February, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated following reports from the SA Police Services of an adult male angler swept off rocks into the sea by waves while fishing from the shoreline East of Gwaing River Mouth.
SOUTHERN CAPE: Thembalethu, Victoria Bay, Sedgefield, Hansmoeskraal, Buffalo Bay, Mossel Bay. NSRI, Police the emergency services and Municipal authorities are appealing to the South African public and tourists visiting our country to have extreme safety in mind in and around coastal and inland waters.
At 17h08, Monday, 29 January, NSRI Wilderness were alerted to eyewitness reports of a paraglider accident at Gericke’s Point, Sedgefield.
Police are investigating a case at the Hermanus old harbour where clothing, a cellphone and other items were discovered on the shore.
The British High Commission has sponsored three location-specific NSRI rip current signs and 22 emergency beach safety signs, which will be erected at beach entrances between Herolds Bay and Sedgefield.
We investigated reports of a spear fisherman overdue after a local fisherman reported his concerns after seeing the spear fisherman's vehicle still parked at Shelly Point and knowing that the man had gone spearfishing at 13h00
NSRI Kleinmond medics and rescue swimmers, Overstrand Fire and Rescue Services, the SA Police Services, and WC Government Health EMS responded to Kleinmond Lagoon to reports from Overstrand Municipality of a drowning in progress in the lagoon. On arrival on the scene it was found the a male bystander Good Samaritan had rescued a local 9 year old male from under water and on bringing the child to the shore the Good Samaritan a lady bystander Good Samaritan had initiated Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) efforts - assisted by other bystanders and they had restored the patients pulse, which was feint and restored spontaneous breathing. NSRI medics and Fire Services continued with medical treatment to the unconscious child and the EMS paramedics arrived to assist. Gradually the child's condition improved during ongoing medical treatment and the child was transported to hospital by EMS ambulance in a serious but stable condition where doctors and nurses continued with medical care. NSRI has learned that the child has made a full recovery. The bystander Good Samaritans are commended for their efforts that contributed to the child's life being saved. NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated by the Outeniqua Surf Lifesaving lifeguards, conducting volunteer surf lifesaving duties, reporting that they had rescued an 11 year old male from the water at Victoria Bay. NSRI medics and a WC Government Health EMS paramedic responded. On arrival on the scene NSRI medics and the EMS paramedic assisted lifeguards who had the child in their care on the beach at their lifeguard tower. Following medical assessments the child was released in good health requiring no further medical care. The swift response by the lifeguards is commended.
NSRI Wilderness, while conducting routine maintenance and routine training at the NSRI Wilderness rescue station, were alerted to a drowning in progress at Wilderness Beach.
Station 23 (Wilderness) crew member Jané Botha recently raised a staggering R47 500 for the NSRI by swimming 73 775 meters in 24 hours!
5 Lives were saved on Sunday in cooperation with bystander Good Samaritans, Pink Rescue Buoys, and a lady using a bodyboard. A further 3 lives were saved by bystander Good Samaritan efforts
NSRI has commended Brooklyn Boesak, 13, from Sedgefield Primary School, locals Daniel Armoed, 41 and Piet van Rooyen, 48, and Louis Lombard, 31, who is visiting from Pretoria, for their efforts that saved a local 41 year old mans life on Sunday 26 November, at Sedgefield Lagoon Mouth.
EERSTERIVIERSTRAND: NSRI OYSTER BAY: Jaen Smit, NSRI Oyster Bay operation controller, said: At 07h31, Thursday, 26 October, NSRI Oyster Bay duty crew were activated following reports, initially believed to be, of a man and his dog that had been washed ...
Multiple incidents took place across the Southern Cape this May. Here's a rundown of some of those stories:
NSRI Wilderness and George Fire and Rescue Services are assisting the Police Dive Unit continuing in an ongoing search for an 18 year old student male who remains missing at Wilderness. Also, A 70 year old German tourist is recovering in hospital following a paragliding accident on Thursday, 9 March. Southern Cape Tourism are assisting the man and his wife. Additionally, On Saturday, 11 March, at 11h48, NSRI Wilderness and the Police Dive Unit responded to Lake Pleasant, Sedgefield following a request for assistance from 2 rowing boats with 5 children, 2 adults and a dog on board. And An East London adult man was safely rescued off-shore of Bantry Bay on Saturday, 11 March. Lastly, At 11h35, Saturday, 11 March, NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) received an NSRI RSA SafeTrax activation indicating a double paddleski suffering rudder failure off shore of Cooper Lighthouse about 6 nautical miles South of Durban.
At 16h09, Friday, 10 March, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress in front of Views Hotel, Wilderness.
A seal encounter safely managed, three drownings prevented, and an animal cruelty incident ended… It’s all in a day’s work for Sedgefield’s take-action lifeguards.
At 14h53, Sunday, 19 February, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at a farm dam inland of Wilderness.
This a reminder again on the FULL MOON SPRING TIDE: Bathers and shoreline anglers around the coast are advised to be cautious during todays peak of the full moon Spring tide that will cause the higher than normal high tide and lower than normal low tide (and that will gradually retreat over the next few days). The peak of the full moon Spring tide is today, Friday, 6th of January - a full moon micro moon. Caution is advised for today, over this weekend and for the first few days of next week. The concern is that coastal bathers and shoreline anglers who are not aware of the full moon (and new moon) Spring tides may be caught off guard. Rip currents can be stronger in places during a Spring tide. We are appealing to coastal bathers and shoreline anglers to be cautious and bathers should only swim at beaches protected by lifeguards, swim in between the safe swimming areas lifeguards post using their red and yellow flags.
It's been a busy few days for the NSRI volunteers out of Gordon's Bay, Wilderness and Kleinmond
Bathers and shoreline anglers around the coast will notice that from today the high tide will gradually get higher than normal and low tide will gradually retreat to lower than normal leading up to the peak of the full moon Spring tide on the 6th of January - a full moon micro moon.
Another fatal drowning on the Garden Route after strong rip currents
A search is continuing for an adult fisherman, from George, who went missing on Saturday after a wave swept him off rocks from the shoreline while he and a fellow fisherman were reportedly collecting bait East of Gwaing River Mouth, near Herolds Bay, Southern Cape, on Saturday.
On Saturday, 1 October, at around 10h00, NSRI Port Alfred were alerted to an incident that had happened at Kelly's Beach where 4 members of a family were rescued with the assistance of 2 Good Samaritans.