“We hope to create a swimming culture amongst the children and teachers who we have taught how to swim. The skills the teachers will gain will allow them to teach upcoming students how to survive in water,”
Every year on 25 July, World Drowning Prevention Day draws global attention to a simple but powerful message: drowning is preventable.
Strong partnerships are built over time. They begin with a shared purpose, grow through trust and, at their best, become woven into the everyday work of making a difference.
The NSRI is celebrating the women who serve across its rescue stations, swimming pools, classrooms and beaches, ahead of Women's Day on 9 August. From volunteer sea rescue crew to survival swimming instructors, shore controllers and Pink Rescue Buoy custodians, women play a vital role in building safer communities along South Africa's coastline and inland waters.
The NSRI has secured a significant three-year partnership with the Victor Daitz Foundation and World Relief Australia to fund a dedicated Drowning Prevention Instructor in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal.
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 that his son’s life had been saved by a doctor who happened to be at the scene and could administer emergency care on the spot.
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, while others have always wanted to learn but never had the chance.