Over the weekend, a vigilant bystander named Brandon helped the NSRI duty crew rescue two men from drowning in Cape Town after they were swept into the water by a powerful wave off the harbour wall at Kalk Bay.
Simon McDonnell, the station commander of NSRI Simon’s Town, reported that at 4:45pm on Saturday, NSRI duty crew received alerts about two local men who had been swept into the water from the harbour wall by a powerful wave, and another man, identified as Brandon, had courageously entered the water with an NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy in an attempt to assist.
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NSRI Simon’s Town launched the NSRI rescue vessel Donna Nicholas, and NSRI rescue swimmers, Cape Medical Response (CMR) and the City of Cape Town’s water rescue network were activated in response to the incident. CoCT law enforcement officers, the SA Police Services, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, WC Government Health EMS and the NSRI Strandfontein duty crew were also notified.
When officers arrived on the scene, it was discovered that Brandon had used an NSRI pink rescue buoy to assist the two men. Brandon successfully brought one of the men to shore with the help of bystanders and continued to assist the second individual in the water, using the NSRI pink rescue buoy to keep him afloat.
Unfortunately, this second man had been injured, making it difficult for bystanders with a ladder to safely extract him from the water.
Four NSRI rescue swimmers entered the water and equipped Brandon with a personal flotation device (PFD). With the support of NSRI rescue swimmers, Brandon maintained his assistance for the injured individual on a ledge beneath the harbour pier.
Once the NSRI rescue craft arrived on the scene, a crane was employed to lift the injured individual, who had been secured onto a specialised hoisting stretcher, onto the vessel. Subsequently, the casualty was transported to the shore without further harm.
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The injured man received medical attention from CMR paramedics and was taken to the hospital via a CMR ambulance. His condition, although serious, was reported as stable, and he is now in the process of recovery.
The NSRI has issued an appeal for the commendable Brandon to come forward. They can contact NSRI Communications at 082 380 3800.
The NSRI expressed their admiration for Brandon’s swift and selfless actions in this situation.
The harbour wall at Kalk Bay is notorious for posing risks during high tide and rough sea conditions, with bystanders often being swept off. To ensure safety, NSRI urges the public to avoid the Kalk Bay harbour wall when waves are observed sweeping over it.
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