SEA RESCUE – NATIONAL – Wednesday, 27th March, 2013. Essential water safety tips for Easter Weekend

This months second Spring Tide peaked with last nights full moon (Full Moon - 26th March).

The effects of this Spring Tide will be felt around the coast from now until after the long weekend (Easter Weekend).

Bathers are urged to exercise caution in the surf because rip currents will be at their strongest until after Easter Weekend.

NSRI urge parents to ensure that their children have responsible adult supervision around all water over Easter Weekend including at Swimming Pools, Dams, Lakes, Rivers, at the Coast and even at small pools of water.

Anyone launching any kind of craft onto water must let a responsible person know the time that they are leaving, their exact route and their return time. Stick to the plan and let the responsible person know of your safe return. (If you are overdue then the responsible person should let rescue authorities know immediately).

Also wear your life-jacket at all times on water and carry safety equipment – Red Distress Flares, a Signaling Mirror, a waterproof Torch, a Referee Whistle, A Cellphone or Radio (in water tight sleeves) and know how to use your safety equipment.

Everyone living along the coast and everyone visiting the coast over Easter weekend should find out what their nearest direct sea rescue emergency number is (depending on where they are on the coast) - Find out what your nearest direct sea rescue emergency number is by visiting our website at www.nsri.org.za.

To report a sea rescue emergency call the NSRI sea rescue emergency number and call 10177 (National Ambulance and Rescue) and call 10111 (Police). In a sea rescue emergency seconds could mean the difference between life and death.

NSRI have rescue stations around the South African coastline and at the Hartbeespoort Dam, the Vaal Dam and at Victoria Lake in Germiston.


-ENDS-


Released by:


Craig Lambinon
Sea Rescue Communications

SEA RESCUE – HOUT BAY and KNYSNA – Tuesday, 26th March, 2013. Yacht assisted in Cape Town and two youngsters on a rubber-duck assisted by Knysna Yacht Club

Hout Bay:

Lyall Pringle, NSRI Hout Bay station commander, said:

"At 14h57 (Tuesday, 26th March) NSRI Hout Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from the 34 foot Catamaran yacht ATLANTIS reporting to have fishing net fouled around her motor propellor and rudder off-shore of Olifantsbospunt, Cape Point.

"The yacht, sailing from last port of call The Seychelles to the Port of Table Bay, Cape Town, with a 55 year old Belgium male skipper onboard and a 49 year old South African female onboard.

"Our NSRI Hout Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched our sea rescue craft NADINE GORDIMER and ALBIE MATTHEWS and responded.

"On arrival on-scene we found the yacht underway, under sail, but having steering difficulties with rope and fishing net fouled around her motor props and rudder.

"NSRI rescue swimmer Dean Morrison was deployed into the water and he free dived under the yacht and cut the rope and fishing net free which was recovered onto our sea rescue craft and once all rope and fishing nets were cut free the yacht continued on her passage to Cape Town and no further assistance was required.

Knysna:

Graeme Harding, NSRI Knysna station commander, said:

"At 20h24 (Tuesday, 26th March) NSRI Knysna volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of unknown people screaming for help on the Knysna Lagoon in the vicinity of the Angling and Yacht Clubs.

"Our NSRI Knysna volunteer sea rescue duty crew responded to our base to launch our sea rescue craft and in the interim numerous calls were being received reporting the cries for help including a call from the Knysna Yacht Club.

"While our NSRI crew were responding to our sea rescue base we requested the Yacht Club members to launch a boat to investigate while we continued to respond.

"On arrival on-scene the yacht club members reported finding two youngsters on a small rubber-duck, a tender boat for a house boat. They were being swept away in strong winds and the yacht clubs boat took them under tow and brought them safely ashore where they required no further assistance.

"It appears that the two youngsters had launched their house boats 'tender boat' (a small rubber duck), on Knysna Lagoon, to fetch their father from the shore but they had not opened the 'pet cock' (an air valve switch on the fuel tank) and while motoring to shore the motor was starved of fuel and the motor stalled causing them to be rapidly swept away in strong winds.

"As no further assistance was required and they were safe, thanks to the quick response of the Knysna Yacht Club members, NSRI stood down and returned to 'stand-by'."

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Released by:


Craig Lambinon
Sea Rescue Communications

UPDATE – PILOT WHALES – 25th March, 2013

The City of Cape Town Disaster Risk Management have reported that during the night 3 of the 5 whales that were released into False Bay late yesterday afternoon were found beached on Long Beach, Simonstown, at 11h30 last night.

Veterinary Surgeons, the Department of Environmental Affairs – Oceans and Coasts, the SPCA and the City of Cape Town Disaster Risk Management responded and are confident that these 3 whales are 3 of the 5 that were released into False Bay late yesterday afternoon.

At approximately 02h30, Monday, 25th March, Veterinary Surgeons, under the guidance of the Department of Environmental Affairs – Oceans and Coasts marine scientists and the SPCA, humanely euthanized the 3 beached whales which were found to be in poor and deteriorating health.

The False Bay coastline is being monitored by the authorities to determine if the remaining two whales may also beach.


Craig Lambinon
Sea Rescue Communications

SEA RESCUE – NOORDHOEK – Sunday, 24th March, 2012. 20 Pilot Whales Beach

Tom Coetzee, NSRI Kommetjie station commander, said:

"At 07h43, Sunday, 24th March, NSRI volunteer sea rescue duty crews from Sea Rescue stations in Kommetjie, Hout Bay, Simonstown, Strandfontein, Bakoven and Table Bay were activated following reports of 20 Pilot whales beached at Noordhoek Beach, Noordhoek, (between Hout Bay and Kommetjie), in Cape Town.

"Our NSRI volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched sea rescue craft from Kommetjie and from Hout Bay and NSRI rescuers responded and the City of Cape Town Disaster Management, The Department of Environmental Affairs – Oceans and Coasts, the SPCA, Law Enforcement, Law Enforcement Marine Unit, Table Mountain National Park Rangers, the SA Police Services, Police Sea Border Line, Cape Town Traffic, 2 Veterinary Surgeons and various marine agency volunteers were activated to respond.

"The WC Government Health EMS, Police Divers and the SA Navy were placed on alert.

"Private companies and private volunteers made their services available to the authorities some of which was utilized in the operation and is highly appreciated.

"The media played an important role by broadcasting an urgent appeal by the authorities to stay away from the area as access routes were immediately identified as an initial hazard if blocked as heavy equipment and heavy vehicles were needed at the scene.

"Media continued to assist throughout the day by continuing to broadcast the message that the beach was closed to the public and by updating the public regularly on the situation.

"On arrival on-scene 4 whales were found deceased. 6 whales were found to be in reasonable good health. 1 whale that was lying in shallow surf appears to have swum away through the surf. 9 whales were in less good health.

"During the morning 1 whale that was found to be in poor health died naturally.

"9 whales were humanely euthanized after Veterinary Surgeons found them to be in extremely poor health and suffering.

"Of the 6 whales that had initially been in relatively good health 1 whales health deteriorated rapidly and 5 were loaded onto trailers and trucks and transported to the SA Naval Dockyard in Simonstown and transported to sea by two SA Navy tug boats and released.

(Initially one whale was released and it beached itself again in front of Berthas Restaurant, on a beach, in Simonstown. That whale was later loaded onto one of the SA Navy tug boats using a crane on the tug boat).

"In total one Navy tug boat had two whales onboard and one Navy tug boat had three whales onboard. All 5 whales were released in calm seas in False Bay and were followed after being released and they appeared to be swimming along strongly.

"14 whale carcasses have been removed from the beach.

"Marine Scientists have taken samples of the whales for forensic analysis."

All emergency agencies, private companies and private individuals, and the members of the public and media that were at the scene are commended for their efforts.

In total there were 20 whales.

5 were loaded onto trailers and transported to the SA Naval Dockyard and released at sea by two Navy tug boats and at last sight at 19h07 they were witnessed by following boats to be swimming strongly in False Bay. 1 whale had swum off through the surf during the early morning. 5 whales died of natural caused on Noordhoek Beach. 9 whales that were in poor health and suffering were humanely euthanized by Veterinary Surgeons assisted with the guidance of the SPCA and Marine Scientists from the Department of Environmental affairs – Oceans and Coasts.


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Released by:


Craig Lambinon
Sea Rescue Communications

SEA RESCUE – VAAL DAM – Friday, 22nd March, 2013. Child drowns

Dick Manten, NSRI Vaal Dam station commander, said:


"On Friday, 22nd March, at 15h12, NSRI Vaal Dam volunteer rescue duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning at Rate Payers Bay, approximately 1 kilometer from the NSRI rescue base at Deneysville.

"Our NSRI Vaal Dam volunteer rescue duty crew launched our auxiliary rescue craft SKINRAY and the SA Police Services responded.

"On arrival on-scene a search commenced for a child, estimated age to be between 9 and 13, who had gone missing in the water while swimming with a group of children approximately 40 meters from the river bank.

"A group of people that were swimming across the channel, about 100 meters away, had noticed the group of young children swimming at Rate Payers Bay when they witnessed the one child disappear under water and not resurface.

"While these eye-witnesses raised the alarm one of the eye-witnesses, an adult male, had attempted to swim across the channel to help but he turned around before reaching the scene anticipating that he may get into difficulty himself.

"The other children had fled the scene and we suspect that their fleeing the scene was from their shock at what had happened and they have not returned.

"After no sign of the child could be found a Police Dive Unit was activated.

"Prior to Police divers arriving our NSRI rescuers and a Police Inspector formed a line (made up of four NSRI rescuers and a Police Inspector) in the 1.2 meter water depth and we began a 'sweeping line' search. On the third sweep the body of the child was located under water deceased.

"The body of the child was brought to shore and has been handed into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services.

"Police have opened an inquest docket. The child remains unidentified and Police are attempting to locate family of the child."


-ENDS-


Released by:


Craig Lambinon
Sea Rescue Communications

SEA RESCUE – WILDERNESS – Friday, 22nd March, 2013. False Alarm with good intentions and a paragliding accident

Torsten Henschel, NSRI Wilderness duty coxswain, said:

"On Friday, 22nd March, at 15h58, NSRI Wilderness volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of a person suspected to have gone missing in the surf behind the breaker line on Wilderness Beach opposite The Dunes.

"Our NSRI Wilderness volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched our sea rescue craft SERENDIPITY and our DISCOVERY Quad Bike responded.

"On arrival on-scene we found a man walking along the beach and he confirmed that earlier he had been swimming beyond the breaker line. He had then swum out further down the beach and it appears that the eye-witness had lost sight of the swimmer in the breakers while he was making his way to shore.

"The eye-witness had seen the man swimming far out to sea behind the breaker line but then lost sight of the swimmer and fearing that the man had gotten into difficulty had raised the alarm.

"This was a case of a false alarm with very good intentions. The eye-witness was absolutely correct to raise the alarm, based on the circumstances, allowing sea rescue authorities the opportunity to properly investigate and we commend the eye-witness for her responsible approach to the situation."

"Then, at 17h51, our NSRI Wilderness volunteer sea rescue duty crew responded to Wilderness Beach, in the vicinity of Views Hotel, following reports of a paragliding accident.

"The SA Police Services, WC Government Health EMS and ER24 ambulance services were also activated.

"On arrival on-scene we found a tandem paraglider, carrying an adult male paragliding pilot and his 14 year old male tandem passenger, both from Gordons Bay in Cape Town, had crash landed on the beach during a tandem paraglide.

"The 14 year old was not injured but the adult male was suffering lower back pain and full C-Spinal immobilization was applied by paramedics.

"The man was loaded, securely fastened to a trauma board, onto a Metro EMS rescue quad bike and transported over the beach to an ambulance on the roadway and then transferred into an ambulance and transported to hospital in a serious but stable condition.

"It has been determined by hospital staff that he has suffered a spinal fracture and he is due to be transferred to hospital in Cape Town for further treatment."


-ENDS-


Released by:


Craig Lambinon
Sea Rescue Communications

SEA RESCUE – WILDERNESS – Thursday, 21st March, 2012. Horse rescue

 

Garth Dominy, NSRI Wilderness duty coxswain, said:

"On Thursday, 21st March, at 18h10, our NSRI Wilderness volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of a horse trapped on an island on the Hoogekraal River, near to Karatara, Wilderness.

"It was reported that the owner, during attempts to rescue the horse from drowning in the river, had resulted in the owners and a Veterinary Surgeon becoming marooned on a small island with the horse, which had collapsed from exhaustion, in fading light, steep cliffs on either side of the river and 1 kilometer upstream of the low water bridge.

"The horse had reportedly been missing for two days and the owner, Don Hartig, had found the horse earlier in the day (on Thursday) in deep water, battling to keep its head above water.
"It is suspected that the horse had wandered up river and then tried to swim to safety but had ended up in deep water with steep cliffs on either side of the river bank and struggling to stay afloat with nowhere to go.

"Don had paddled to the horse using a borrowed canoe and had tried desperately throughout Thursday to keep the horses head above water while trying to coax the horse to either swim down river to a safe landing or to climb onto a small island in the river.

"Eventually the horse managed to climb onto the small island but collapsed from exhaustion and stress although physically uninjured.

"Local Veterinary Surgeon, Dr. Rolf Lambrecht, of the Knysna Veterinary Clinic, had been summoned and Don had ferried the Vet to the island on the small canoe where the Vet then sedated the horse and they stayed with the horse while she regained her strength.

"Don's wife, Carien, had also been ferried to the island on the canoe to assist.

"With fading light they had become quite desperate to find a solution to get the horse to safety and concerned friends and neighbors had called NSRI Wilderness with a plea for help.

"Our NSRI Wilderness volunteer sea rescue duty crew responded towing our NSRI Sea Rescue craft SERENDIPITY and DIE SWART TOBIE together with our full-scale swift water rescue kit and our night kit (which includes donated head lamps and torches) and on arrival at the low water bridge we were well received by the concerned friends and neighbors and a briefing was held to determine the best course of action.

"It was decided to initially send in a reconnaissance team to investigate and our sea rescue craft were launched onto the river.

"By coincidence one of our NSRI Wilderness volunteers, Dr. Torsten Henschell, is a retired Veterinary Surgeon himself and another one of our NSRI Wilderness volunteers, Jacques de Bruyn, is an ex SA Defense Force Equestrian Unit officer, so it was obviously decided that they should be sent in on the initial 'recce'.

"We also had with us an SA National Parks ranger, the manager of Wilderness National Parks, Jonathan Britten, who knows the area very well to accompany us.

"On arrival on-scene, 1 kilometer upstream, at the small island which is overgrown with vegetation, we found the owners and the Vet in good spirits but exhausted and the horse, the 10 year old mare, Firefly, perched precariously close to the river, she remained collapsed but she appeared to be regaining her strength.

"After consulting with Don, Carien and the Vet, the decision was made to ferry Carien and the Vet to the low water bridge, in order to release the Vet who had to leave to attend to another emergency, and to allow Carien and our remaining sea rescue crew to put together a provisions pack so that the owners could consider staying on the island with the horse overnight.

"The risk and safety of the situation was carefully assessed, with the major concern revolving around the possibility of the horse getting up in the night, in a confined space, surrounded by deep water and with twopeople in close proximity. Fortunately for all, just then Firefly managed to get up, unassisted, and remained calm, with Don kindly speaking to her whilst holding her reins. This made the decision easier for them to rather remain there for the night.

"Carien put together a pack of provisions and blankets for the cold night ahead, for themselves and for the horse. Hay was packed and the NSRI crew carefully checked the pack, adding an NSRI torch and additional emergency space blankets, and the concerned friends and neighbors added flasks of hot coffee and rusks.

"The final trip by rescue boat, Serendipity, left Carien and Don with Firefly, who was now munching away happily and calmly at her hay. We made sure that their cellphone was charged and that they had all the required emergency phone numbers including the direct Sea Rescue emergency phone number on speed dial.

"Our NSRI volunteer sea rescue duty crew returned to base at 22h00.

UPDATE:

"Don and Carien and Firefly, who has strengthened throughout the night, are well this morning. In the daylight ashallow sand bar adjacent to the island has been identified. Attempts are underway to walk Firefly through the less deep water, and then to cut a path through undergrowth to walk her up to the pass and to safety.

UPDATE 2:

"NSRI Wilderness volunteer sea rescue duty crew remained on alert to assist if necessary and by 14h15, Friday, 22nd March, Don and Carien reported that they had safely walked Firefly out of her predicament and she was grazing safely at home."




-ENDS-


Released by:


Craig Lambinon
Sea Rescue Communications

SEA RESCUE – STRUISBAAI – Saturday, 16th March, 2013. Angler bitten by a shark

Reinard Geldenhuys, NSRI Agulhas station commander, said:

"At 07h30, Saturday, 16th March, NSRI Agulhas volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of an angler bitten by a shark at De Mond, 15 kilometers from Struisbaai, and reported to be unable to walk and losing blood.

"Because of tidal conditions, making the area inaccessible by road, the Overberg Fire and Rescue Services were alerted and they dispatched a Working on Fire helicopter accompanied by WC Government Health EMS paramedics, Fire and Rescue Services personnel and NSRI Agulhas rescue volunteers onboard and responded and was able to land close by to the scene.

"On arrival on-scene we found 30 year old Kobus Koeberg, from Hermanus, suffering lacerations to his left leg on his calf and on his achilles heel but otherwise fully conscious and in good spirits.

"The patient was stabilized by paramedics on the scene and loaded into the helicopter and airlifted to Bredasdorp where he was loaded into an EMS ambulance and transported to the Bredasdorp Hospital for further treatment.

"The patient was later transferred by ambulance to a private hospital in Hermanus where he is undergoing surgery to repair damaged tendons.

"Mr. Kobus Koeberg had been taking part in a 'tag and release' surf angling competition. It appears he had caught an approximately 1.5 meter Ragged Tooth shark (it is reportedly common to catch sharks in these competitions) and he was in the process of measuring and releasing the shark in shallow surf when a wave knocked him over and the shark bit him.


"The shark was safely released."


Pictures taken by Reinard Geldenhuys NSRI Agulhas.

-ENDS-


Released by:


Craig Lambinon
Sea Rescue Communications

SEA RESCUE – OLIFANTSBOSPUNT – Friday, 15th March, 2013. Two fishermen rescued

Tom Coetzee, NSRI Kommetjie station commander, said:


"At 01h00 NSRI Kommetjie volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of a crayfish bakkie (small fishing boat) experiencing a snapped propellor shaft off-shore of Slangkop Lighthouse, Scarborough, with two fishermen on board.

"Our NSRI Kommetjie volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched our sea rescue craft SPIRIT of the WINELANDS and our rescue vehicle responded.

"Sea conditions were a gusting 20 knot South Easterly wind and a 2.5 meter choppy, rough sea swell.

"While responding to the scene it was determined that the small fishing boat was much further South and, after activating two illuminating flares to assist in our locating them in the dark moonless conditions, we found them half a nautical mile off-shore of Olifantsbospunt, in the Cape Point Nature Reserve.

"On arrival on-scene we found both men safe and a tow-line was rigged.

"NSRI Hout Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated at 01h28 and dispatched both of their sea rescue craft NADINE GORDIMER and ALBIE MATTHEWS.

"Our intentions were for our NSRI Kommetjie sea rescue boat to tow the casualty craft to Kommetjie and NSRI Hout Bay would take over the tow effort there and tow the casualty boat to Hout Bay.

"In the rough sea conditions and the strong off-shore winds it was later decided to tow the casualty vessel into the crayfish factory slip way, between Scarborough and Kommetjie, and once we had them safely ashore NSRI Hout Bay were released to return to base.

"Our sea rescue craft was recovered at Crayfish Factory, the Police Sea Borderline, who had also responded, were on hand and the fishermen were to arrange a trailer to recover their boat but they required no further sea rescue assistance."


-ENDS-


Released by:


Craig Lambinon
Sea Rescue Communications

SEA RESCUE – Noordhoek – Thursday, 14th March, 2013. 2 swept out to sea rescued

Lyall Pringle, NSRI Hout Bay station commander, said:

"At 15h40 NSRI Hout Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of 5 people being swept out to sea on the Chapmans Peak side of Noordhoek Beach.

"Our NSRI Hout Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched our sea rescue craft ALBIE MATTHEWS and CMR (Cape Medical response), the Skymed (Metro EMS Red Cross AMS) rescue helicopter, WC Government Health EMS and their EMS rescue squad and Table Mountain National Park rangers responded.

"Prior to arriving on-scene the eye-witness reported that all 5 people were out of the water and as a precautionary measure rescue resources continued to respond to the scene.

"On arrival we found that a group of missionaries, from IMB (International Missionary Board), made up of locals and foreigners, staying at a local camp nearby, with children and teenagers and young adults, from around South africa, in their care, had been wading in shallow water when two of their group, a 13 year old male and a 19 year old female, were swept out to sea by rip-currents.

"3 of the 'carers' went to their assistance, giving the eye-witness the impression that 5 people were being swept out to sea, and all made it safely ashore.

"They were checked by CMR paramedics and both the 13 year old and 19 year old were transported to hospital by a CMR ambulance for observation for secondary drowning as a precautionary measure."

The rescue services are commended for their quick response.


-ENDS-


Released by:


Craig Lambinon
Sea Rescue Communications

SEA RESCUE – Sunrise Beach, Muizenberg – Wednesday, 13th March, 2013. Skipper thrown overboard Kyena II and her third rescue in less than a month

Darren Zimmerman, NSRI Simonstown station commander, said:

"At 05h10, Wednesday, 13th March, NSRI Simonstown volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority following a request for urgent assistance from the sailing yacht KYENA II reporting to be between Roman Rock, Simonstown, and Muizenberg, with the skipper of the vessel reportedly collapsed unconscious onboard and the single crewman onboard fighting to keep the yacht off-shore and under motor into a 50 knot gusting South Easterly on-shore wind.

"Reportedly the yacht had reached Roman Rock Lighthouse, Simonstown, at 01h00 this morning, but the 2 crew onboard, skipper Geoff de la Rue, 67, and crewman John Bowhill, 60, both from the United Kingdom but now living in Johannesburg, were struggling in the very strong winds and rough seas and had decided to turn around and try to head for Gordon's Bay. At 05h00 the crewman raised the alarm reporting that the skipper had collapsed unconscious, from unknown causes, and that he was struggling alone and exhausted to motor sail the yacht in the heavy seas.

"This is the same yacht that was towed 30 nautical miles to Port by the East London NSRI on the 15th of February, 2013, suffering motor problems, and again on 22 February, 2013, where NSRI Port Alfred went to their assistance off Bird Island in a 14 hour sea rescue operation where they had sustained water in the fuel system and where the skipper had experienced ill health.

"Originally sailing from Richards Bay to Simonstown to sell the yacht they had, following the previous two rescue operations, continued on from Port Elizabeth and their last port of call was Mossel Bay before running into weather problems about only a mile off Simonstown harbour.

"Our NSRI Simonstown volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched our sea rescue craft SPIRIT OF SAFMARINE III and EDDIE BEAUMONT and responded and on realizing that the coordinates position that the yacht had provided put them in the surf line at Sunrise Beach, Muizenberg, NSRI Strandfontein were also activated. It was difficult to get accurate information from the yacht.

"WC Government Health EMS ambulance and an EMS rescue squad and ER24 ambulance services were also activated to respond to the scene and CMR (Cape Medical Response) ambulance services responded to our sea rescue base in Simonstown to stand-by.

"On arrival on-scene we found the yacht wallowing in the surf line just 10 meters from the beach almost aground and our deep-sea rescue craft SPIRIT OF SAFMARINE III went into the surf line and reversed (keeping the bow towards the incoming waves) to the yacht and a towline was passed to the yachts crewman but, it appears his strength was sapped and he struggled to connect the towline, and only after a tense few minutes, with less than 1.5 meters of water under our hull, a gusting 50 knot onshore wind and confused, rough, sea swells and breaking surf over the bow of our sea rescue craft and over the yacht, the KYENA II crewman finally managed to hook our tow-line to the yacht's mast.

"In trying conditions we gently pulled the yacht out to sea through the breakers taking a good half an hour and taking a pounding from the waves which were breaking over our bow but we finally got the casualty yacht out beyond the breakers and further out to sea.

"There we transferred an NSRI medic and an NSRI crewman onboard the yacht.
"The towline was secured properly and medical treatment began on Geoff de la Rue who was found to be suffering exhaustion, chest pains and severe hypothermia but it remained uncertain what had caused his severe condition. The yachts crewman appeared also to be fighting exhaustion.

"The yacht was found to be heavy laden with water.

"We towed the yacht to the Naval Dockyard in Simonstown and once berthed CMR provided advanced life support medical treatment to Geoff de la Rue who has been transported to hospital in a serious condition by a CMR ambulance.

"The crewman John Bowhill has also been assisted to regain his strength from exhaustion.

"Only once both men were warmed up, and with Geoff recovering well in hospital, and we were able to make sense of their story, did it transpire that the skipper Geoff de la Rue had actually fallen overboard early this morning and he had been rescued by his crewman John Bowhill – this explains the dire peril they had found themselves in.

"We believe that this is now the end of their journey. They will wait for Geoff to be released from hospital and for favorable winds and seas before sailing the yacht from the Naval Dockyard, around the breakwater, to the False Bay Yacht Club. They are being assisted to secure their boat in the Naval Dockyard by the SA Navy."

NSRI Simonstown Station Commander Darren Zimmerman, who was coxswain onboard SPIRIT OF SAFMARINE III today, and his NSRI Simonstown sea rescue crew are commended for a daring rescue effort to save the yacht and the two crew of KYENA II from a maritime disaster today.


-ENDS-


Released by:


Craig Lambinon
Sea Rescue Communications

SEA RESCUE – CAPE TOWN – Tuesday, 12th March, 2013. Sea Rescue Exercise

The sea rescue exercise, 'Operation Beachy', organized by the City of Cape Town Disaster Risk Management, which took place today, Tuesday, 12th March, at Mouille Point was a resounding success.

One of the largest sea rescue exercises to ever take place in South African waters this sea rescue exercise involved 300 personnel, of which 101 were 'casualties', and 23 emergency services agencies participated including: The City of Cape town Disaster Risk Management, the Transnet National Ports Authority, Transnet National Ports Authority tug boats, SAMSA (South African Maritime Safety Authority), Telkom Maritime Radio Services, MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre), the SA National Defense Force, the SA Navy, the SA Air Force, NSRI, WC Government Health EMS and the EMS rescue squad – rescue technicians and EMS rescue dive unit, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, the SA Police Services, the SA Police Communications, the SA Police Dive Unit, the SA Police Sea Borderline Unit, Sea Point Police Station, Cape Town Traffic Services, the Forensic Pathology Services, Law Enforcement, Metro Police, the City of Cape Town Law Enforcement Equestrian Unit, Skymed (Metro EMS Red Cross Air Mercy Services), WC Government Department of Health, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, the Department of Environmental Affairs, WC Customs Services, Department of Social Services, Netcare 911 ambulance services, ER24 ambulance services, and Foreign Consulates from The United States of America embassy, the British High Commission, The Consulate of the French Republic, The Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany and the MSC Cruise Line Ship agent, MUSTADAFIN – Disaster Relief NGO, the V&A Waterfront Management and Cape Town Stadium.

For the purpose of the exercise:

At 09h15 the fully laden passenger cruise ship COSTALOT (which was actually the SA Navy Ship SPIOENKOP) reported to Cape Town Port Control the she had run aground off-shore of Mouille Point and were fighting a blaze onboard and listing to one side.

The Transnet National Ports Authority Harbour Master assumed command of what was rapidly escalating into a multi emergency services mass casualty and search and rescue operation and a JOCC (Joint Operations Control Centre) was immediately established at the Port Control Tower in the Port of Table Bay where representatives of the responding emergency services gathered to coordinate the 'rescue operation'.

NSRI Table Bay, NSRI Bakoven, NSRI Melkbosstrand, NSRI Hout Bay, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, WC Government Health EMS, SA Police Services were activated to respond to the scene.
Fire Fighters and EMS paramedics and EMS rescue technicians were dispatched to accompany sea rescue boats.
The Skymed rescue helicopter, Law Enforcement Marine Division rescue craft, SAPS Sea Borderline craft, the SAPS Dive Unit craft, an EMS rescue craft and Transnet Tug Boats were also activated to respond.

Cape Town Radio (Telkom Maritime Radio Services) broadcast an all ships alert and played a pivotal role in efficient communications throughout the exercise.

MRCC, Maritime Radio Services, SAMSA, SA Police Services, Cape Town Disaster Risk Management, Cape Town Traffic, the SA Navy, the SA Air Force, the SA Army, private ambulance services, and all associated emergency services (responsible to respond as per the protocol of a mass casualty incident) were activated.

On arrival on-scene the first sea rescue craft to arrive at the casualty ship assumed the on-scene command and Fire Fighters, EMS paramedics, EMS rescue technicians and NSRI rescue teams were put aboard the casualty vessel to fight the fire, search and free entrapped crew and passengers, medically triage and treat passengers and crew and to rapidly evacuate all crew from a ship that may capsize at any moment.

While this was underway a full scale shore emergency services contingent responded to and amassed at the Mouille Point Lighthouse and roads leading to 'the scene' were closed to the public and the area was cordoned off while Disaster Management and Metro EMS established an on-scene sub JOCC, a landing zone, emergency medical treatment facilities, a media center, a refreshment center and Cape Town Stadium was taken under command by Disaster Management to act as a secure zone for sorting and treating casualties and adequately brief victims and relatives.

Media were alerted to cover the story and on their arrival they were briefed and ushered to a media station.

An emergency hotline telephone number was established and broadcast by media while media also played a pivotal role in keeping the public abreast of developments and requesting public to stay clear of the 'scene' while the 'emergency operation' was underway.

Security perimeters were established and maintained by Police, Law Enforcement, Cape Town Traffic Services and Metro Police.

Ingress and Egress routes were established for ambulances and hospitals were placed on high alert while additional medical and rescue personnel were activated to take over control of slip ways and boat launching sites in the area ready to receive 'patients' and to launch additional resources as needed.

The first casualty patients and survivors were brought ashore aboard sea rescue craft at 09h50 and a ships Manifest was also brought ashore where Disaster Management administrative staff began to establish the number of passengers and crew onboard (for rescuers to establish the number of still missing casualties) and to determine the casualties nationality.

The media and foreign consulates were briefed by the JOCC media representatives on regular intervals.

A search had begun for passengers unaccounted for and possibly floating on the high seas and the SA Air Force 22 Squadron Lynx and Oryx helicopters arrived on-scene and assisted to evacuate critically injured patients off the ship and to search for survivors in the sea. NSRI helicopter rescue crews were deployed from the helicopters to winch hoist casualties into the helicopter to be brought ashore.

The fire onboard the ship had been extinguished by Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services and assisted by the tug boats fire fighting equipment while sea rescue craft continued to ferry survivors off the ship to various landing sites along the coastline.

Treatment of injured passengers and crew took place on the shore at Mouille Point and at the Cape Town Stadium and ambulances transferred the injured to local hospitals.

Customs officials dealt with clearing passengers entering our country, social services assisted with trauma counseling, the Department of Environmental Affairs cleaned up the pollution spill (as per an exercise), the Department of International Relations and Cooperation assisted with the Foreign affairs, Foreign Consulates dealt with their countrymen and the Forensic Pathology Services took over the care of those deceased.

Throughout the exercise the Ports Authority staff maintained normal port operating procedures with regular shipping traffic without interruption while lending excellent support to the exercise.

The Captain and crew of SAS Spioenkop played a remarkable role in the exercise and made a huge effort to keep all of the 'exercise casualties' comfortable and welcomed aboard while awaiting their 'rescue'.

After all 'casualties' were accounted for and evacuated off the ship (or found floating on the ocean or in life rafts) the rescue exercise was completed and attention shifted to the ongoing treatment and transportation of injured casualties while environmental services mock cleaned up the ocean and SAMSA made the vessel safe for salvage.

Only one real casualty resulted during this exercise which involved one of the young female volunteers who succumbed to some emotional stress after being winch hoisted (airlifted) off the ship by a helicopter. She has received trauma counseling and has recovered well.

During the exercise we experienced a strange phenomenon of multiple 'white' illuminating flares sighted, nearly all at the same time, off Kommetjie, Robben Island and two along the False Bay Coast. A search of the Robben Island sighting was launched by NSRI Hout Bays sea rescue craft and nothing was found and the search was called off. The other sightings were also investigated but their origin and purpose remains a mystery. At the same time what is believed to have been a meteor shower was sighted from the Goodwood vicinity but the Astronomical Society reported that this was natural for this time of year.

Brad Geyser, Sea Rescue JOC Commander, said: "At one stage during the exercise nature threw the exercise a curve ball and fog rolled in, although only briefly, hampering the exercise but also giving us the opportunity to re-enact as close to reality as possible, which is always a challenge during an exercise, as alternative arrangements had to be made for evacuating passengers while helicopters could not do that leg of the rescue in the fog. Craft that did not have navigational equipment onboard had to be guided in the fog – these are real obstacles we often face in real rescues, said Brad."

Greg Pillay, Manager-Head of CoCT Disaster Risk Management, said: "The preparation for this exercise and the exercise itself went very smoothly considering the number of organizations involved and considering the size of the rescue operation we were enacting and we are extremely satisfied with the outcome and we are confident with our preparedness for any disaster of this nature."

Captain Sabelo Mdlalose, Transnet National Ports Authority Harbour Master, said: "All in all this sea rescue operation showed the efficiency of our emergency response to any disaster of this nature that may occur on our waters around South Africa."

At the preliminary debriefing, held at Cape Town Stadium post the exercise, Ward Councilor JP Smith congratulated all involved and a special thanks was acknowledged to the volunteers who took part in the exercise.

A formal debriefing will be held next week and lessons learned and good working practices will be shared with joint emergency services around the country.

The Joint Emergency Services of Operation 'Beachy' today sincerely thank all media agencies that attended the exercise.


-ENDS-


Released by:


Craig Lambinon
Sea Rescue Communications

SEA RESCUE – WILDERNESS – Tuesday, 12th March, 2013. Frenchman in near drowning incident

Hennie Niehaus, NSRI Wilderness station commander, said:


"On Tuesday, 12th March, at 12h52, NSRI Wilderness volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Flat Rock, 3 kilometers East of NSRI Wilderness rescue base.

"Our NSRI Wilderness volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched our sea rescue craft SERENDIPITY and our DISCOVERY rescue runner and the SA Police Services, SA National Parks rangers and ER24 ambulance services responded.

"On arrival on-scene we found 52 year old Sivihan Carim, from France, on holiday in South Africa, had managed to reach shore without assistance after being swept out to sea by rip-currents while swimming with a friend.

"He was medically evaluated by paramedics and found to be suffering from near drowning symptoms but he declined to be transported to hospital.

"The casualty and his friend were advised to look out for secondary drowning symptoms and they were briefed on who to call and what to do if secondary drowning occurred but paramedics are confident that the casualty was not in any danger and, had he accepted, transportation to hospital would have been only a precautionary measure."


-ENDS-


Released by:


Craig Lambinon
Sea Rescue Communications

SEA RESCUE – HOUT BAY – Saturday, 09th March, 2013. A very lucky man

Lyall Pringle, NSRI Hout Bay station commander, said:


"On Saturday afternoon, 09th March, our NSRI Hout Bay crew launched our sea rescue craft NADINE GORDIMER for sea trials. We motored towards Kommetjie and at some point, with wind and sea conditions worsening, we decided to turn around and head back to base in Hout Bay, the newly refitted sea rescue vessel having been put through her paces.

"About 3 nautical miles (5.5 kilometers) off-shore of Noordhoek Beach, at 15h50, about 4 nautical miles from Hout Bay and equally 4 nautical miles from Kommetjie, we happened to come across a man paddling on his paddle board (a sea kayak).

"With the 35 knot gusting South Easterly off-shore wind blowing the rough seas reasonable flat, and a lot of sea spray and 'white horses', we at first couldn't quite believe what we were seeing - a lone man paddling out here, in the middle of nowhere.

"We decided to investigate!

"On reaching the man he gratefully accepted being taken aboard our sea rescue craft. He was cold. He had been wearing shorts, a rash vest and a life-jacket but he had no flares nor any other safety equipment and no communications device.

"We asked him where he was headed and where he had come from and he told us that he had launched at Kommetjie at 14h00 (where there was very little wind in the shelter of the Bay) but as he paddled out to sea the wind had grabbed him and sent him rapidly out to sea despite his best efforts to paddle against the wind. He told us that at some point he had made the decision to try to paddle across wind to reach land (we believe his estimation would have been to try to reach Noordhoek or Chapmans Peak) towards Hout Bay but sensed that despite his efforts he was heading further out to sea but he pressed on regardless determined to make the effort. It was about at that point that the NSRI Hout Bay sea rescue boat happened to come across him.

"Malan Vorster, 34, from Pretoria but now living in Brackenfell, Cape Town since January, told us that his wife would have most likely raised the alarm at about 16h30 or 17h00. By NSRI's calculation, in the increasing wind speeds (increased to 45 knots gusting by 17h30) Mr Vorster would have been about 7 nautical miles off-shore at that stage.

"Mr Vorster was rewarmed at our sea rescue base in Hout Bay and one of our NSRI crew members took him to where his wife was, in Tokai, and he has arranged to fetch his car in Kommetjie. He will come back to our sea rescue base in Hout Bay to fetch his paddle board on Wednesday.

"He agrees, a very lucky guy and he will invest in all the safety equipment he can."

-ENDS-


Released by:


Craig Lambinon
Sea Rescue Communications

SEA RESCUE – PLETTENBERG BAY – Wednesday, 06 March, 2013. Patient transported to hospital

 

Deon Truter, NSRI Plettenberg Bay station commander, said:

"At17h15, Wednesday, 06th March, NSRI Plettenberg Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew, while conducting routine exercises in the surf at Plettenberg Bay, were activated following reports of a man found motionless in the water at Robberg 5 Beach, Plettenberg Bay.

"Our NSRI Plettenberg bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew, at sea at the time conducting routine exercises nearby, dispatched three of our sea rescue craft, SALLY JOAN, AIRLINK RESCUER and our DISCOVERY RESCUE RUNNER, and Medlife ambulance services responded.

"On arrival on-scene we found the on-duty lifeguards had successfully rescued a 49 year old male from the water and the man was secured and immobilized onto a spinal trauma board.

"He has been transported to hospital by Medlife ambulance in a stable condition suffering a suspected spinal injury.

"It appears that the man, from Germany, and staying with his brother who lives in Plettenberg Bay, may have been 'dumped' by a wave while swimming and may have hurt his spine during the incident. Lifeguards had reportedly found the man lying face down in the water in the surf line before rescuing him."


-ENDS-


Released by:


Craig Lambinon
Sea Rescue Communications

SEA RESCUE – PORT ELIZABETH – Tuesday, 05th March, 2013. Gyrocopters safe in Jeffreys Bay

Daniel Heimann, NSRI Port Elizabeth duty controller, said:


"This afternoon at 15h10, (Tuesday, 05th March), NSRI Port Elizabeth volunteer sea rescue duty crew were alerted by the Mandela Bay Water Emergency Response Committee following reports of an incident in the ocean at Sea View with eye-witnesses strongly suspecting that a small aircraft had ditched into the sea off Sea View, Port Elizabeth.

"The 5 credible eye-witnesses, while sitting at a restaurant, had seen a small aircraft bank sharply and disappear behind a sand dune and all indications led these eye-witnesses to strongly suspect that a small aircraft had ditched into the sea and they raised the alarm.

"NSRI Command enquired at ATNS (Air Traffic Navigational Services) at Port Elizabeth Airport who confirmed that 9 Gyrocopters were, at that time, flying en-route from Port Elizabeth to Paradise Beach landing strip, in Jeffreys Bay, but ATNS had no communication with these 9 Gyrocopter pilots to confirm if there had been any incident.

"With this new information at hand the incident command escalated the emergency response to meet the strong suspicion that a Gyrocopter may have ditched into the sea at Sea View.

"NSRI Port Elizabeth, the SA Police Services, Coastal Rescue, Guardmed ambulance services, the EC Government Health EMS, Mandela Bay Fire and Rescue Services responded and other emergency services agencies and the SA Air Force 15 Squadron Charlie Flight were placed on alert.

"NSRI Jeffreys Bay and NSRI St Francis Bay were alerted to also begin a search and to make enquiries at airfields along that stretch of the coast.

"NSRI Jeffreys Bay station commander, Rieghard Janse van Rensburg, responded directly to the Paradise Beach landing strip in Jeffreys Bay where he found all 9 Gyrocopters safe and on the ground at Paradise Beach.

"They confirmed that they had engaged in some low level and tight turn flying during their flight from Port Elizabeth to Jeffreys Bay and also positively confirmed that this activity was displayed in the vicinity of Sea View, Port Elizabeth.

"Prior to this incident becoming a full scale, multi emergency services, search and rescue operation, with the knowledge at hand that all the 9 Gyrocopter aircraft were safe and accounted for at Jeffreys Bay, the rescue operation was called off and all rescue resources were returned to base.

"The emergency services involved in this incident today have collectively acknowledged that this was a 'false alarm with the best of intentions of the eye-witnesses'.

"It has been learned that these 9 Gyrocopters are flying a coastal trip with their final destination in Cape Town.



-ENDS-


Released by:


Craig Lambinon
Sea Rescue Communications

NATIONAL SEA RESCUE INSTITUTE (NSRI) MEDIA RELEASE

SEA RESCUE – STRANDFONTEIN – Monday, 04th March, 2013. Boat capsizes, all safe:


Mario Fredericks, NSRI Strandfontein station commander, said:

"At 10h47, on Monday, 04th March, NSRI Strandfontein volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of a boat capsized off-shore of the Strandfontein Pavilion, on the False Bay Coast.

"Our NSRI Strandfontein volunteer sea rescue duty crew responded to prepare to launch our sea rescue craft and NSRI Strandfontein rescue swimmers responded directly to the scene.

"On arrival on-scene we found all 4 persons, from a trek fishing boat, which capsized in the surf line, were safely ashore. They had swum and waded ashore and were not injured.

"Their boat washed ashore.

"Our NSRI sea rescue craft was not launched as all 4 fishermen were safely ashore. They had all been wearing life-jackets.

"The 4 local trek fishermen were checked by our NSRI medics but were not injured and no further assistance was required."

-ENDS-


SEA RESCUE – PORT ELIZABETH – Monday, 04th March, 2013. 3 men rescued from drifting boat:

Ian Gray, NSRI Port Elizabeth station commander, said:

"At 17h45, on Monday, 04th March, NSRI Port Elizabeth volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of a small 5.8 meter rigid inflatable boat adrift at sea, with 3 local men onboard, suspecting to be somewhere between Schoenmakerskop and Sardinia Bay, 15 nautical miles from the Port of Port Elizabeth, with motor failure.

"Our NSRI Port Elizabeth volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched our sea rescue craft EIKOS RESCUER IV and on arrival on-scene, in fading light and 3 to 5 meter rough sea swells and a 15 knot wind, a search commenced with the hope of finding the drifting boat before nightfall.

"Aircraft coming in to land at Port Elizabeth Airport were requested to be on the lookout as the search area was in their flight path.

"At approximately 19h30 both our sea rescue crew aboard EIKOS RESCUER IV and an Airlink commercial aircraft (coming in to land) spotted the drifting boat simultaneously, 2 nautical miles off-shore, as night fell, and our sea rescue craft rendezvoused with the boat and all 3 men were found safe and not injured.

"In the rough sea conditions the 3 men, aged 36, 54 and 43, abandoned their boat and were transferred onto our sea rescue craft and brought to our sea rescue base arriving at 21h15.

"It is expected that their boat will wash ashore in the area.

"The men were released requiring no further assistance."


-ENDS-


Released by:


Craig Lambinon
Sea Rescue Communications

SEA RESCUE – DURBAN – Saturday, 02 March, 2013. 2 spear-fishermen found safe after search

 

Clifford Ireland, NSRI Durban station commander, said:

"On Saturday, 02 March, at 10h03, NSRI Durban volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of 2 local spear-fishermen missing while spear-fishing off-shore of the Green Point Lighthouse, Scottburgh, on the South Coast of Kwa-Zulu Natal.

"Our NSRI Durban volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched our sea rescue craft MEGAN II and our NSRI rescue vehicle towed our sea rescue craft SPIRIT OF SVITZER to be launched from the scene and the Police Search and Rescue responded.

"It was confirmed that the 2 spear-fishermen, an 18 year old and a 50 year old, locals, were spearfishing from their boat SHARKY, when they went missing at approximately 09h20. The crewman on the boat had initiated a search and another private boat SEA HUNTER, that was in the area at the time, had joined in a search.

"Prior to NSRI's arrival on-scene the two men were located and recovered from the sea by the private boat SEA HUNTER at 11h15. They were reported to not be injured and were brought safely ashore and no further assistance was required.

"NSRI resources responding to the scene were stood down to return to base.

"It is reported that they had departed from Rocky Bay at 08h00 and went into the water, off Clansthal to spear-fish at 09h00, and went missing at approximately 09h20. It has not been established by NSRI what caused the two men to go missing."


-ENDS-


Released by:


Craig Lambinon
Sea Rescue Communications

NATIONAL SEA RESCUE INSTITUTE (NSRI) MEDIA RELEASES.

SEA RESCUE – LANGEBAAN – Monday, 25th February, 2012. Kite Boarder assisted:


Gerard Brune, NSRI Mykonos station commander, said:

"On Monday, 25th February, early evening, NSRI Mykonos volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of kite boarder in difficulty off-shore in the Bay between Saldanha Bay and Langebaan.

"Our NSRI Mykonos volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched our sea rescue craft Gemini Rescuer II and responded.

"On arrival on-scene, following a search, a kite and board was located drifting at sea and recovered but no sign of the kite boarder could be found.

"While a search continued for a suspected missing kite boarder and investigations were launched at local kite boarding shops and at launch sites and while investigating we were approached by a local kite board shop that confirmed that a Swedish man had abandoned his kite at sea and swum safely ashore, after getting into difficulties, and he had gone in search of someone to help him raise the alarm that his kite and board were adrift at sea and to try to find someone willing to help him try to retrieve his kite and board from the sea.

"The kite boarder, Sven Metlig, from Sweden, was reunited with his kite and board at the NSRI sea rescue base in Mykonos.

"He claimed that he had been out on a final sail, before returning home to Sweden, when he got into difficulties before abandoning his kite and board. He is due to fly home to Sweden today, Tuesday, 26th February."

-ENDS-

SEA RESCUE – SHELLY BEACH – Tuesday, 26th February, 2012. Scuba diver missing:

On Tuesday, 26th February, at 08h30, NSRI Shelly Beach volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of a scuba diver gone missing while diving at Protea Banks, approximately 5 nautical miles off-shore of Shelly Beach, from a Dive Charter Boat.

NSRI Shelly Beach volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched two sea rescue craft and a sea rescue craft from NSRI Port Edward has joined in the search.

The Dive Charter Boat, from which the scuba diver has gone missing, initiated a search while raising the alarm.

It appears that the scuba diver missing is the Dive Master. According to reports – when the divers emerged from diving the Dive Master was reported missing but the sequence of events are not as yet clear and are subject to an investigation to determine.

Police Search and Rescue are on high alert and the Transnet National Ports Authority rescue helicopter has joined in the search. A further 4 private boats, some of them are also charter boats, have joined in the search.

The divers, on the dive charter boat, are due to be ferried to shore while the search continues.

The missing scuba diver is aged in his late 20's.

Further updates to follow.

SEA RESCUE SHELLY BEACH – UPDATE: Missing diver found:

Mark Harlen, NSRI Shelly Beach station commander, said:

"Jean-Pierre Els, 30, from Uvongo, Shelly Beach, the dive master of African Dive Adventures, who went missing this morning (Tuesday, 26th February), 5 nautical miles off-shore of Shelly Beach, on the Kwa-Zulu Natal South Coast, at Protea Banks, while conducted a group charter dive, was located by the Transnet National Ports Authority rescue helicopter at 15h20 off-shore of Port Edward, approximately 45 kilometers (24 nautical miles) from where he originally went missing.

"An NSRI rescue swimmer was deployed into the water from the rescue helicopter to secure the casualty who was then winch hoisted into the rescue helicopter and airlifted to shore to our NSRI Shelly Beach rescue base.

"Despite exhaustion, dehydration and some sunburn he is not injured and he will not require to be hospitalized.

"It appears that he was separated from the dive charter group, at around 08h00, while diving and when he surfaced from the dive he had no sight of the dive charter boat. He drifted for over 7 hours in the 2 to 3 meter rough sea swell and a 30 knot wind until he was found.

"In total we deployed the Transnet National Ports Authority rescue helicopter, 2 NSRI Shelly Beach sea rescue craft, 1 NSRI Port Edward sea rescue craft and there were 5 private boats assisting in the search. (Two of the private boats assisting in the operation are also from African Dive Adventures).

"NSRI commend all involved in this sea rescue operation for their cooperation and assistance."



-ENDS-



Released by:


Craig Lambinon
Sea Rescue Communications

SEA RESCUE – TABLE BAY – Sunday, 24th February, 2013. Alleged stowaway rescued

Pat van Eyssen, NSRI Table Bay station commander, said:


"At 22h27 on Sunday, 24th February, NSRI Table Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority following reports of a stowaway adrift at sea on a life-raft in the vicinity of East of Robben Island.

"Our NSRI Table Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched our sea rescue craft SPIRIT OF VODACOM and the SA Police Services Sea Borderline responded.

"It was reported that the SAFMARINE ship CHA CHAI, lying at anchor at 4 Buoy in Table Bay, waiting at anchor to enter the Port of Table Bay, had noticed an unidentified man launching a life-raft from their ship. The life-raft was successfully launched by the man but he was drifting towards Robben Island and the ship requested assistance from the Transnet National Ports Authority.

"On arrival on-scene a search commenced and in full moon good sea conditions the life-raft was located East of Robben Island by the Police boat and Police Sea Borderline officers recovered the man from the life-raft.

"The man, a 19 year old from Libya, was then recovered onto our sea rescue craft and he was medically checked by our NSRI medics and although dressed only in a pair of shorts he was found to be suffering only mild dehydration.

"The life-raft was returned to the ship.

"The Police boat escorted our sea rescue craft (with the man onboard our sea rescue craft) to our sea rescue base and a Netcare 911 ambulance was dispatched to further evaluate the medical condition of the man. He was in a satisfactory condition suffering only mild dehydration.


"The man was taken to the Table Bay Port Police Station and he remains in Police custody. The operation was completed at 01h30.

"The man, who speaks very good english, told NSRI rescuers that he was from Jobey, in Libya, and that he had boarded the ship in Ghana as a stowaway and he claimed that he was not aware where the ship was headed.

"Police are investigating and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation have been informed."


-ENDS-


Released by:


Craig Lambinon
Sea Rescue Communications