SEA RESCUE – PORT ALFRED AND MOSSEL BAY – Saturday, 26th January, 2012. Boat crew assisted in Port Alfred and near drowning incident in Mossel Bay

PORT ALFRED:

Keryn van der Walt, NSRI Port Alfred duty coxswain, said:

"On Saturday, 26th January, at 14h20, NSRI Port Alfred volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from the 9 meter sports fishing boat INGOLOZI with 9 crew onboard reporting to be off-shore of the Kowie River Mouth harbour entrance, returning from a days fishing, and too heavy laden to risk attempting passage through the river mouth harbour entrance.
"The skipper reported that he was just not able to get his boat up and onto a 'plain' and felt that under the circumstances any attempt to enter the river mouth harbour entrance would be too risky with the 9 crew members onboard.

"Our NSRI volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched our deep-sea rescue craft LOTTO CHALLENGER and our 5.5 meter rigid inflatable sea rescue craft and on arrival on-scene, in 2.5 meter swells, we transferred 7 crew members from INGOLOZI onto our sea rescue craft and INGOLOZI was then able to get up and onto a 'plain' and she made safe passage into the harbour and all 7 crew members were brought safely into the harbour aboard our sea rescue craft where once all safely home no further assistance was required."

MOSSEL BAY:

Judd Smook, NSRI Mossel Bay deputy station commander, said:

"On Saturday, 26th January, at 16h45, NSRI Mossel Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Outeniqua Beach, Great Brak, near Mossel Bay.

"Our NSRI volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched our sea rescue craft VODACOM RESCUER II and NSRI rescue swimmers responded directly to the scene in our sea rescue vehicle and the WC Government Health EMS rescue squad responded.

"Our sea rescue vehicle arrived on-scene first and NSRI rescue swimmer Alf Meintjies swam out to the casualty who was found to be struggling in a strong rip current and being swept out to sea by rip currents in a 1 and a half to 2 meter rough sea swell and breaking surf.

"On reaching the casualty, about 30 meters off-shore, in the surf line, Alf secured the man, local 37 year old Johan van Eeden, using a rescue flotation device, and together they continued to be swept by strong rip currents which naturally swept them further out to sea and then swept them across the beach front before naturally bringing them closer towards the shore (in the incoming currents). They simply stayed afloat with Alf keeping the victims head above water using the rescue flotation device.

"Once they reached closer to shore 4 local surfers launched their surfboards and paddled out and on reaching the rescue effort they assisted Alf to bring the casualty onto the beach where EMS paramedics assessed the patient who was found to be satisfactory but suffering from near drowning symptoms.

"An ER24 ambulance was summoned and the patient was transported to hospital by ambulance in a stable condition for observation for secondary drowning.

"NSRI rescue swimmer Alf Meintjies is commended for his efforts."


-ENDS-


Released by:


Craig Lambinon
Sea Rescue Communications