NSRI lifeguards deployed early after multiple incidents

GARDEN ROUTE | KAROO NEWS - NSRI, lifeguards, Police and emergency services have attended to multiple rescue operations over the past weeks, including sadly an increase in drowning accidents around the coastline and on inland waters.

NSRI, lifeguards, Police and the emergency services, are appealing to the public to swim at beaches protected by lifeguards.

Always have safety top of mind in and around coastal waters, inland waters – rivers, lakes and dams, and your swimming pool at home should be cloaked in preventative safety measures.

We appeal to parents and carers to ensure children have responsible and sober adult supervision in and around water.

NSRI are appealing to bathers to refrain from swimming under the influence of alcohol.

NSRI are appealing to boaters, paddlers and sailors to download and always use the NSRI SafeTrx free smartphone application and to have safety equipment at the ready always while out on your craft on the water.

The NSRI Pink Rescue Buoys have again stepped in, playing a critical role in aiding in bystander rescue operations, most recently at Kleinmond and at Port Alfred.

To date, since the introduction of the NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy program in 2017, to our knowledge, there have been 199 lives saved in successful bystander Good Samaritan rescues, using NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy’s, on South African waters.

No harm has come to any of the Good Samaritan’s who used the pink buoys in these rescues.

NSRI are appealing to coastal hikers to be well prepared and to always be cautious of hiking trails that can be deceptive in distance and difficult terrain. At high tide coastal hiking trails can be obstructed.

We are also asking coastal shoreline anglers to be aware of the incoming high tide and never turn your back on the sea while fishing from the shoreline. Have safety top of mind.

NSRI commend the assistance of the emergency services, Police, Law Enforcement, Municipal authorities, associated lifesaving services and the joint operations cooperation between all services that contribute top preventing emergencies and attending to emergencies.

NSRI commend the media for your combined efforts, tirelessly broadcasting and publishing our safety alerts. You can be immensely proud of your contribution that saves lives.

The public at large are commended for their assistance during unfolding emergency operations.

Let's keep each other safe.

Knysna. Buffels bay, Sedgefield, Wilderness, Victoria Bay, Herolds Bay, Leentjiesklip

NSRI lifeguards were deployed early, volunteered by NSRI Headquarters in cooperation with NSRI lifeguard management and local Municipalities, at beaches at Buffels Bay, Sedgefield Mouth and Myoli Beach, this past weekend, Saturday 23 November, and Sunday 24 November, where, here, the NSRI lifeguards attended to 84 preventive incidents and 9 rescues where bathers were caught in rip currents before being rescued from the water by the NSRI lifeguards.

Then at Wilderness, Victoria Bay, Herold's Bay and Leentjiesklip, NSRI lifeguards recorded at Victoria Bay, 90 preventative actions.

At Herold's Bay, 63 preventative actions. At Leentjiesklip, 45 preventative actions. At Wilderness Beach, 25 preventative actions with 1 female swimmer who self rescued after being caught in rip currents.

A total of 223 Preventative Actions by NSRI lifeguards were attended to across these beaches.

NSRI lifeguard preventative rescue operations along the Southern Cape Coast has highlighted the immense value NSRI lifeguards are contributing to preventing drownings at beaches.

NSRI lifeguards proactive measures not only prevented numerous potential emergencies but also reinforced the importance of their presence as the Summer season begins.

The NSRI lifeguards who participated in these deployments are commended for preventing injuries or fatalities to bathers.

Storms River

On Tuesday, 26 November, NSRI Storms River and NSRI Oyster Bay responded to the Storms River waterfall trail to assist SA National Parks (SANParks) rangers at an incident where a 52- year-old German man had suffered injuries in a fall while hiking.

The man, in a stable condition, was walked to the Storms River parking area, in the care of SANParks rangers and NSRI crew, and he travelled to Hospital by private transport for further medical care.

Plettenberg Bay

On Saturday, 9 November, NSRI Plettenberg Bay launched rescue craft and crew responded to Robberg Nature Reserve Trail where they assisted a 50-year-old German man who suffered breathing difficulties while hiking.

He was brought to the NSRI Plettenberg Bay station 14 rescue base aboard the NSRI rescue craft Ray Farnham Rescuer where he was reunited with friends and family and he required no further assistance.

On Thursday, 14 November, NSRI Plettenberg Bay responded to Fredericks Board walk, where a 70-year-old man was suffering exhaustion during a walk. NSRI transported the man to his home and he required no further assistance.

On Wednesday, 20 November, NSRI Plettenberg Bay launched rescue craft and crew responded to Robberg Nature Reserve Trail where, assisted by SA National Parks rangers, NSRI assisted a German lady who suffered an injury while hiking. Secured onto a floating stretcher she was swum out to the NSRI rescue craft Ray Farnham Rescuer and brought to the NSRI Plettenberg Bay station 14 rescue base where she was taken into the care of Medlife ambulance services and transported to hospital for further care.

On Thursday, 21 November, NSRI Plettenberg Bay responded to the Robberg Nature Reserve to assist ER24 ambulances services on a scene where a lady, age 64, from Germany, had suffered an injury while hiking.

The lady, secured into a Stokes basket stretcher, was hiked to the car park and transported to hospital by ER24 ambulance, in a stable condition, for further care.

On Saturday, 23 November, NSRI Plettenberg Bay launched rescue craft and crew responded to Robberg Nature Reserve Trail where they assisted a German man who suffered exhaustion while hiking. He was brought to the NSRI Plettenberg Bay station 14 rescue base aboard the NSRI rescue craft Ray Farnham Rescuer where he was reunited with friends and family and he required no further assistance.

NSRI Plettenberg Bay and Bitou lifeguards are continuing to keep a sharp lookout assisting Police who are investigating the disappearance of an 18-year-old male and 21-year-old male who failed to return from fishing, reportedly on Sunday 17 November, on the Bitou River.

Despite search efforts by Police WPDS (Water Policing and Diving Services) there remains no sign of the 2 fishermen.

A private helicopter, volunteered to assist in the search by Duran de Villiers, assisted in extensive search efforts but the 2 fishermen are reported to be missing.

Thoughts are with the families in this difficult time.