WILDERNESS NEWS - NSRI Station 23 Wilderness duty crew members were activated yesterday afternoon (Saturday 8 February) following reports from members of the public; CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) efforts were being conducted on a man up the river from a camp site on the Touws River.

This is according to Mike Vonk, NSRI Wilderness deputy station commander.

He said: "Our NSRI rescue vehicle, SA National Parks (SANPark) rangers and WC Government Health EMS responded. "On arrival on the scene, a SANParks boat carried NSRI medics and a George doctor, who was staying at the camp site, to the scene further up the river. The SANParks boat returned to collect an EMS paramedic.

"NSRI medics, the doctor and the EMS paramedic continued with extensive CPR efforts but sadly, after all efforts were exhausted, the man was declared deceased."

It appears that the 44-year-old man from Durban, on a corporate weekend with colleagues, reportedly fell out of a kayak while paddling on the river. A colleague managed to get him to the shore and initiated CPR while raising the alarm.

"His body was transported downstream and taken into the care of the SA Police Services and the Forensic Pathology Services. An inquest docket has been opened to determine the cause of death.

"Condolences are conveyed to family, friends and colleagues of the man."

Earlier this week, on Tuesday, 5 February, NSRI Station 23 Wilderness responded to Main Beach, Wilderness, following reports of a drowning in progress.

"Our NSRI rescue swimmers and WC Government Health EMS responded," says Vonk.

"On arrival on the scene, a 20-year-old local female, believed to have been rescued from the water by a bystander, was out the water and being attended to by Eden 911 paramedics. She was transported to hospital by an Eden 911 ambulance in a stable condition. She was released from hospital following observations for non-fatal drowning symptoms.

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