STATION 23 - WILDERNESS - False Alarm with very good intentions:
On Saturday, 05th January, at 14h05 NSRI Wilderness volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports from eye-witnesses suspecting a surfer to be in difficulty at Victoria Bay, near Wilderness.
Hennie Niehaus, NSRI Wilderness station commander said that in extremely rough sea conditions a full activation of sea rescue resources was deployed with rescue swimmers responding directly to the scene, the NSRI duty crew responding to the base to launch our sea rescue craft and the EMS Skymed rescue helicopter activated.
Lifeguards at the beach at Victoria Bay, although they couldn't see anyone in any difficulties at the place where the eye-witness reported seeing a surfer that they suspected to be in difficulty, they began to swim out, through very rough sea conditions, towards the general area of the sighting to begin investigating the general area for what was thought to be a surfer in trouble.
After nothing could be found that resembled a 'surfer in trouble', and before any of the rescue resources arrived on-scene it was discovered that the eye-witness had seen a seal in the water - which, in the rough seas, looked a lot like a person in trouble - and all rescue resources were stood down to return to base.
"In situations like this we commend the eye-witness for alerting the rescue authorities without any hesitation, if it had been someone in trouble they may have stood a very good chance of being rescued and rightly so it is better to call sea rescue, if a member of the public is not too sure of what they are seeing but thinks that someone could be in trouble, so that sea rescue can make a proper and full investigation to be absolutely sure." said Hennie Niehaus.
STATION 18, MELKBOSSTRAND - Red Distress flare sighting reveals Sky Lanterns:
On Saturday, 05th January, at 21h04, NSRI Melkbosstrand command were alerted following numerous eye-witness reports of red distress flares sighted in the vicinity of Big Bay, Bloubergstrand.
On investigation it was revealed that members of the public were setting off Sky Lanterns (also known as Chinese Lanterns) from the beach.
NSRI are appealing to the public not to set off Sky Lanterns, especially along the coastline, as they are almost always mistaken, from a distance, to be red distress flares.
STATION 4, MYKONOS - Kite Surfer or a Yacht suspected to be in difficulty:
On Saturday, 05th January, at 20h35, NSRI Mykonos volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following eye-witness reports of a kite-surfer in difficulty off-shore of Mykonos. Another report from an additional eye-witness reported that it was suspected to be a yacht in difficulties at the same location and it was presumed that this was the same incident.
Sea conditions were very rough.
Pierre Jacobs, NSRI Mykonos duty coxswain, said that on investigation it was revealed that a kite-surfer had safely exited the water further down the beach and he was found to be not injured.
The Police Port of Entry then assisted to monitor the safe return of one yacht that was known to still be at sea and once that yacht was safely in Port all rescue resources were stood down to return to base as no further assistance was required, said Pierre.
STATION 33, WITSAND - Red flares reveals a boat wrecked on rocks and everyone safe:
On Saturday, 05th January, at 22h30, NSRI Witsand volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following eye-witness reports of red distress flares sighted 6 kilometers up river of the Breede River at Goudmyn.
Rob Wilson, NSRI Witsand deputy station commander said:
"We responded to eye-witness reports of red distress flares sighting on the Breede River in the vicinity of ‘Goudmyn’ at around 22h30, 5 January, some 6km inland from the river mouth. Access to the site was gained by land and on arrival we found a 21ft cabin boat hard aground on rocks on the north shore. A small crowd had gathered at the site and there were no injured persons. Eye-witness accounts suggest that the boat was purposefully driven aground to avoid sinking after it was found that water was entering the hull. NSRI crew secured the boat, disconnected the batteries and transported a person, believed to be the skipper and owner of the craft and believed to be from George, by road back to Witsand where one of the NSRI crew arranged accommodation for the person. No further assistance was required and our rescue crew were stood down at 00h15."
-ENDS-
Released by:
Craig Lambinon
Sea Rescue Communications
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