Garden Route NSRI kept busy as visitor tallies soar

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So far there have been at least 15 National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) call-outs since 9 December. NSRI spokesman Craig Lambinon said the frequent call-outs were not necessarily due to rougher sea conditions. "Because there are so many more people, one can expect more incidents," Lambinon said. He said the recent spring tide, peaking on Christmas Day, had also added to the high number of rescues. "The spring tide caused stronger- than-normal rip currents."

Last Tuesday, Plettenberg Bay volunteers responded to two emergencies in just two hours. At about 1pm they were called to assist lifeguards and an NSRI Table Bay crewman in rescuing a man, 20, caught in rip currents between Robberg 5 Beach and Solar Beach. The man was taken to hospital and treated. Two hours later a mother and her son, 7, were caught in currents while swimming at Poortjies, Keurbooms River Mouth. The boy was dragged under an anchored houseboat, then the mother too. Both were rescued.

On Sunday, Plett NSRI volunteers again responded to two emergencies. An Austrian holidaymaker, 28, was caught in a rip current at Nature's Valley at about noon. When volunteers arrived, a spear fisherman had already brought him ashore. Just before 4pm, a fisherman was swept off the rocks on the wild side of Robberg. Two relatives dragged the man ashore. When NSRI volunteers arrived they found the man breathing with difficulty, having a dislocated shoulder and multiple lacerations. He was airlifted to hospital.

On Christmas Day, lifeguards at Wilderness Beach rescued a girl, 13, found face-down in the surf. "A lifeguard initiated cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This was successful and the child was taken to hospital," Lambinon said.

The search continues for two teenagers who were swept off the rocks while fishing at Voelklip, Herolds Bay, on 22 December. Despite several search operations the teenagers have not been found and are presumed to have drowned. Earlier that morning, just before 8am, NSRI Mossel Bay volunteers were alerted of a drowning in progress at Dias Beach in Mossel Bay.

Station commander Andre Fraser said several rescue personnel responded when a 49-year-old father from Cape Town and his 15-year-old son were swept out to sea by rip currents. Both were brought ashore, where paramedics did CPR on the father. Despite their efforts the man was declared deceased by paramedics. The youngster was not injured.

On 17 December Plett and Knysna volunteers had their hands full. Before 9am Plett's duty crew rescued a Johannesburg man and his 16-year-old on after their boat capsized at the Keurbooms River Mouth. At 12.30pm they assisted five people swept out to sea in rip currents.

On 19 December Mossel Bay and Still Bay duty crews assisted a yacht Tatiana, with two men from Mossel Bay on board, after reports of rudder failure. The yacht was brought Mossel Bay under tow.

Just after 3pm they were called out again to assist three Johannesburg children - aged eight, 10 and 12 - who were swept out to sea on body boards. Their father managed to rescue them while volunteers responded. An hour later Knysna volunteers responded to reports of two children in difficulty at Bollard Bay, Leisure Isle. One child had managed to get out of the water while people on board a ferry boat rescued the other child.

Source: Herald