A Pink Rescue Buoy costs R2,000 at ShopNSRI.com
Placed strategically on signs at selected inland rivers, dams and at beaches, these bright pink buoys act as a reminder to take care if there are no lifeguards on duty, and that in the event of someone getting into difficulty in the water, they can be used as emergency flotation until help arrives. Their bright pink colour allows them to be easily seen.
Each Pink Rescue Buoy is housed on a sturdy pole with signage showing how they should be used, as well as the NSRI’s emergency number and the buoy’s unique identification number, which helps rescue services to identify the location of the emergency. ID numbers and NSRI's contact telephone numbers are also embossed on the buoys themselves so they can easily be returned to their posts after usage, or if they are lost or stolen.
Watch the video below of how good samaritans battle the elements in race against time to save 2 fishermen with the help of a Pink Rescue Buoy.
The NSRI has three core Drowning Prevention programmes – Water Safety Education, Pink Rescue Buoys and Survival Swimming – and offers a range of free resources and educational materials.
Become a Pink Rescue Buoy Custodian
Since the project started in November 2017, over 1 900 Pink Rescue Buoys have been installed around South Africa and more than 190 lives have been saved through their use. This would not have been possible without the generous support of donors and sponsors, and buy-in from city councils, municipalities and communities around the country. We urge everyone to please take care of them, and report stolen buoys to us by calling 087 094 9774, or filling out the form below.
“Untrained people are going to the aid of someone who is in danger of drowning despite being advised not to. Our Pink Rescue Buoys use simple graphics to explain that it is safer to throw the float to someone and call the emergency number on the sign for help. But if someone does go into the water despite being advised not to, they have a very good chance of survival if they take flotation with them. In the rescues that we have recorded no rescuer was injured and all rescues were successful”
Gerrit Cloete, NSRI Port Alfred station commander, said: At 07h45, Thursday, 25 December, NSRI Port Alfred duty crew were activated following reports from an NSRI Port Alfred crewman, who happened to be at the scene at the time, of a drowning in progress at Kelly's Beach, Port Alfred.
Cape Town – 10 December 2025: As the summer school holidays start, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) would like to take this opportunity to wish everybody a safe and joyful festive season. We hope that everyone enjoys time with loved ones, takes the opportunity to recharge, and steps into the New Year refreshed.
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.
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.
There are 1 859 Pink Rescue Buoys (PRBs) along South Africa’s coastlines, dams, and rivers. As of this month, they’ve been used in 221 rescues that the NSRI knows of. That’s 221 lives saved because someone noticed a person in trouble and had a safe, effective tool at hand.
Since its launch in 2017, the National Sea Rescue Institute's (NSRI) Pink Rescue Buoy initiative has become a cornerstone of water safety in South Africa.
