National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) lifeguards, the emergency services and police attended to a number of incidents over the past four days around the coast and on inland waters since Thursday, January 6.
NSRI are appealing to the public to keep safety in mind whenever they are in and around water.
Langebaan:
The NSRI Mykonos duty crew were called out to assist a 42-foot motor yacht that had an engine failure, one nautical mile off-shore of Mykonos. The sea rescue craft Spirit of Rotary East London was launched and on arrival on the scene, a towline was established.
Mike Shaw, NSRI Mykonos station commander, said: “The vessel, with 3 crew onboard, was towed to the Mykonos Marina without incident and once safely berthed no further assistance was required.”
Table View:
NSRI Melkbosstrand and CoCT Tableview lifeguards were activated after two people were swept out to sea at Tableview Beach. The NSRI Bakoven sea rescue craft Gemini Legend, at sea at the time on a patrol, responded.
Prior to NSRI arriving on the scene, lifeguards had assisted both casualties and they were safe and no further assistance was required.
On Saturday, January 8, at 7:33pm, NSRI Melkbosstrand, Law Enforcement officers and Big Bay Surf Lifesaving lifeguards were activated following reports of four people in difficulty in the surf zone at the far North side of Tableview Beach.
Cape Town Traffic Services transported Big Bay Surf Lifesaving lifeguards to the scene where they were able to rescue all four victims from the water. Only one casualty required medical attention and he was attended to by lifeguards, NSRI and WC Government Health EMS paramedics.
The swift response by lifeguards, assisted by Cape Town Traffic Services is commended.
Meanwhile at 11pm that same evening, the NSRI Melkbosstrand investigated eye-witness reports of a red distress flare sighted in the vicinity of Bloubergstrand. No reports of any vessels in distress or persons missing had been received.
Telkom Maritime Radio Services broadcast an all ships alert in efforts to narrow a search area while the Transnet National Ports Authority investigated vessels still at sea. NSRI rescue crew were sent to investigate along the shoreline while sea rescue craft was prepped to be launched.
During investigations, shoreline CCTV camera footage shows the red distress flare being set off from the beach by public members. An investigation has been opened into the malicious false alarm and the perpetrators will be tracked down.
Mossel Bay:
NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew were called to an incident of a kite-boarder in difficulty off-shore of Santos.
Andre Fraser, NSRI Mossel Bay station commander, said: “NSRI crew were dispatched to the shoreline to investigate while off-duty NSRI Mossel Bay crewmen, a father his son, on a private boat in the area at the time, reached the casualty and they assisted him to shore without incident and no further assistance was required.”
Kommetjie:
The NSRI Kommetjie duty crew were active following the reports of a stand-up paddle boarder (SUP) in difficulty off-shore of Scarborough. Prior to arriving on the scene eye-witnesses confirmed that the paddleboarder had reached the shore safely.
Meanwhile, in another incident, NSRI Kommetjie duty crew were activated to reports of a foil sailboarder appearing to be in difficulty at least half a nautical mile off-shore of Misty Cliffs.
Matt McDonald, NSRI Kommetjie duty coxswain, said: “Our NSRI rescue vehicle responded and the sea rescue craft Spirit of the Vines was launched. The casualty had managed to swim to shore without incident after abandoning his foil kite at sea. Our sea rescue craft recovered his foil sail which was returned to the most grateful man and no further assistance was required.”
Table Bay:
The NSRI Table Bay duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority following a request for assistance from a local 65-foot motor yacht reporting engine and steering failure and needing a tow into the Port of Table Bay.
Marc de Vos, NSRI Table Bay station commander, said: “The local charter vessels Jolly Roger and Serenity One were standing-by at t5he casualty vessel ready to lend a hand if required. Our sea rescue craft Spirit of Vodacom and Spirit of Day were launched. On arrival on the scene in choppy seas with a 20 knot South Easterly wind NSRI crew were transferred onto the casualty vessel to assist.”
A towline was established and we towed the motor yacht, with the permission of Port Controllers, to Quay 7 where she was moored and where emergency repairs were made. Within the hour she was able to continue under her own power to her moorings at the V&A Waterfront.
NSRI commend the crews of Jolly Roger and Serenity One for their assistance.
Bantry Bay:
NSRI Bakoven duty crew were activated to assist a local boat with engine failure off-shore of Saunders Rocks, Bantry Bay.
Andrew Hirsch, NSRI Bakoven duty coxswain, said: “On arrival on the scene a towline was established and we towed the boat without incident to OPBC (Oceana Power Boat Club) where we assisted to recover the casualty boat onto her trailer and no further assistance was required.”
Richards Bay:
The NSRI Richards Bay duty crew were called out to assist the police search and rescue at Pelican Island near Bay Hall where a local 16-year-old male drowned while he was swimming with four of his friends.
A Police boat and the sea rescue craft Grindrod Rescuer also responded and joined lifeguards who had initiated a search where a police scuba diver was deployed. The body of the teenager was located and recovered from underwater. Sadly he was declared deceased.
Jacques Kruger, NSRI Richards Bay duty coxswain, said: “The body of the teenager has been taken into the care of Government Health Forensic Pathology Services. Police have opened an inquest docket. Condolences are conveyed to the family.”
Also read:
Picture: Cape {tow} Etc gallery