The NSRI is appealing to shoreline anglers to be cautious and coastal bathers to only swim at beaches protected by lifeguards.
This is due to the concern that bathers and shoreline anglers may not be aware of the full (and new) moon Spring tides and be caught off guard.
High tide will gradually get higher than normal and low tide will gradually retreat lower than normal leading up to the peak of the full moon Spring tide (6 January).
Coastal bathers and shoreline anglers are also warned that rip currents can be stronger during a Spring tide.
The NSRI also reported multiple incidents on New Years Day and leading up to the New Year.
Wilderness:
On Wednesday, 28 December at 5.20pm, NSRI Wilderness were alerted to reports that George Municipal lifeguards had recovered a body at Victoria Bay after a surfer had alerted lifeguards.
The body was identified and confirmed to be a 26-year-old Zimbabwean man who had been reported missing at Victoria Bay on Tuesday.
Sunrise Circle Beach:
On Thursday, 29 December, NSRI had been notified of an incident where a Dutch kite boarder was critically injured after it appeared the man had been airlifted in to the air while kite-boarding and landed in the car park area at Sunrise Circle Beach, Muizenberg.
Extensive CPR was conducted before the man was transported to hospital by CMR ambulance while CPR continued in the ambulance and on arrival at a hospital.
Sadly, the Netherlands man was declared deceased at a hospital after all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted.
Kalk Bay:
On Friday, 30 December, at 5.34pm, NSRI Simon’s Town duty crew responded to Kalk Bay Harbour where a man was reported missing in shallow water at a beach adjacent to Kalk Bay Harbour.
After an extensive search revealed no sign of the man, the body of an adult male believed to be from Valhalla Park was located and recovered.
False Bay:
On Saturday, 31 December, at 6.35pm, NSRI Strandfontein, SAPS and WC Government Health EMS responded to Monwabisi where CoCT Law Enforcement officers were in attendance at a drowning in progress.
An unidentified bystander rescued a 31-year-old man from the water.
The man was treated on the scene by paramedics before being released.
On Sunday, 1 January, 3pm, NSRI Strandfontein, Life Health Care paramedics, WC Government Health EMS and CoCT Law Enforcement officers responded to the Muizenberg lifeguard tower where CoCT lifeguards had initiated Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) efforts on a 38-year-old female that had been brought from the water by bystanders.
After successful CPR the female was transported to a hospital in a critical condition by EMS ambulance.
Earlier, at 4.31, NSRI Strandfontein crew responded to the Monwabisi tidal pool where CoCT lifeguards recovered a 4-year-old boy who was treated for non-fatal drowning symptoms before being transported to hospital by EMS ambulance.
NSRI Strandfontein also assisted CoCT lifeguards at Muizenberg Beach where hundreds of bathers were at risk in the water. CoCT lifeguards had initiated routine assistance to bathers as the tide changed. NSRI Strandfontein used a jet-rib rescue craft to assist the lifeguards until the bathers were safely out of danger and risk had been averted.
Strand:
On Sunday, 1 January, at 10.09am, NSRI Gordon’s Bay assisted CoCT lifeguards when a bystander recovered a 12-year-old girl from the water at Cape Sands. She received medical treatment at Strand Lifesaving Club before being released.
At 12.05pm, NSRI Gordon’s Bay assisted a young boy who was dehydrated and collapsed on the beach in the vicinity of NSRI Gordon’s Bay satellite station at Strand Beach. NSRI Gordon’s Bay assisted lifeguards who treated the two patients who were taken into the care of ER24 ambulance services.
At 12.30pm, NSRI Gordon’s Bay assisted a young lady who was experiencing difficulty breathing in from of Topaz at Strand Beach. She was taken into the care of immediate paramedics.
At 3.24pm, NSRI Gordon’s Bay, while at patrol at Strand Beach rescued two casualties caught in a rip current in front of Leonashof, Strand Beach. They were treated by NSRI before being released.
NSRI Gordon’s Bay then rescued another 15-year-old casualty at the same area who was caught in a rip current. He was recovered unresponsive from the water and brought to the Strand Lifesaving Club before being transported in a serious condition.
Maidens Cove, Camps Bay:
On 1 January, at 3.24, CoCT lifeguards treated a 16-year-old girl for non-fatal drowning symptoms.
Plettenberg Bay:
At 12.07pm, NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew were activated and responded to Robberg Peninsula where a man had fallen and was injured on the Robberg hiking trail.
At 7.13pm, NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew responded to the Piesang River braai area following reports of a drowning in progress.
An NSRI Plettenberg Bay rescue swimmer recovered a man from the water where CPR efforts were commenced by NSRI Plettenberg Bay medics.
After all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted, sadly, he was declared deceased.
Mossel Bay:
At 12.25, 1 January, NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew responded to Glentana where three lifeguards rescued a man from rough sea conditions who had been caught in rip currents.
The man was taken into the care of paramedics.
Just after 5pm, NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew were alerted to reports of a drowning in progress at the Great Brak River Mouth at the lagoon.
Mossel Bay Fire and Rescue Services, SAPS and ambulance services reported the child out of the water and extensive CPR efforts were exhausted before, sadly, the child was declared deceased.
Our sincerest condolences to all the families who have lost their loved ones as a result of these incidents.
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Picture: Cape {town} Etc Gallery