Cape Town Safety Alert

A heatwave advisory forecast by SAWS (South African Weather Service) valid 14/11/2023 10h00 to 15/11/2023 22h00 with temperatures exceeding 30 deg C up to 40 deg C affecting the Northern Cape and Western Cape – coinciding with the new moon Spring tide that peaked on Monday 13th November (Spring tide affecting the entire coastline towards the coming weekend) SAWS extreme heat advisory affecting the Northern Cape and Western Cape coastline and inland … indicates:

Public members and the maritime community are urged to follow the SAWS weather advisory for updates and changes.

NSRI are appealing to coastal and inland bathers, boaters, paddlers, sail boarders and surfers who intend to cool off in coastal waters, inland rivers, lakes, dams and any body of water to be cautious and to adopt a safety first mindset.

Do not venture too deep into the water and be aware of strong rip currents.

Children should be protected by a responsible adult watching over children when they are in, around or near water.

Stay hydrated, wear a hat, wear sunscreen and seek shade.

Around the coastline only swim at beaches protected by lifeguards and obey the lifeguards instructions to swim in between the safer demarcated swimming areas.

WC and NC Disaster Risk Management, Lifeguards, NSRI and the emergency services are on high alert.

Only in an EMERGENCY call: 112 NATIONAL / 10177 NATIONAL AMBULANCE SERVICE / NSRI EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTRE: 0870949774

NSRI SAFETY ALERT:

LET’S KEEP EACH OTHER SAFE

We are appealing to everyone to adopt aSafety, Safety, Safety mindset in all activities this summer season.

• Do not drink alcohol and swim.
• Bathers at beaches swim where and when lifeguards are on duty between the lifeguard “safer swimming zone” flags – obey the lifeguards for everyone’s safety.
• Beach bathers, shoreline anglers, and coastal hikers be aware of two high tides and two low tides around the coast every day.
• Be aware of rip currents that can pull swimmers out to sea.
• During full moon and new moon “Spring tide” brings higher than normal high tides and lower than normal low tides that can cause stronger than normal rip currents.
• Swimmers at rivers, lakes, and dams swim with a floating aid for safety and visibility. (But do not let the floating aid blow you away from the shore in strong winds).
• Don’t venture too far from the shore.
• if you get tired in the water float on your back and don’t panic – fill your lungs with air to aid floatation and stay calm.
• Parents and caregivers ensure that responsible, sober adults supervise children while they are swimming in water or when they are around water.
• Wear bright clothing. (Especially children at the beach).
• Your swimming pool at home should be cloaked in safety.
• Boaters, paddlers and sailors – wear your life-jacket and download and always use NSRI’s free SafeTrx smartphone App when out on the water and know how to use your safety equipment – a referee whistle, red distress flares and cell phone fully charged in a watertight plastic sleeve.
• Always keep a responsible family member or friend updated with where you are going, your expected return time and check in on your safe return.

In anEMERGENCY call:112 or call NSRI EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTRE:0870949774.

HaveSafety, Safety, Safety top of mind always, andLET’S KEEP EACH OTHER SAFE.

HOUT BAY:

NSRI STN 8 HOUT BAY:

Spencer Oldham, NSRI Hout Bay station commander, said:

At 13h59, Monday, 13 November, NSRI Hout Bay duty crew were activated following a request for assistance for a man reported to be in difficulty in the water at Hout Bay harbour.

NSRI rescue swimmers, nearby at the time, and Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services responded.

On arrival on the scene an adult male, believed to have suffered a medical condition reportedly causing him to fall into the water

He had been rescued from the water by a male friend who had used a fishing gaff to hook the man’s arm and get him safely out of the water.

WC Government Health EMS Metro Control were alerted.

Life Healthcare response paramedics responded.

The man was stabilised on the scene by paramedics, which included treatment for hypothermia and treatment for a medical condition.

The man was transported to hospital by a Taurus Medical ambulance in a stable condition and he is expected to make a full recovery.

CAMPS BAY:

NSRI STN 2 BAKOVEN and NSRI STN 3 TABLE BAY:

Luke van Riet, NSRI Bakoven coxswain, said:

At 19h28, Monday, 13 November, NSRI Bakoven duty crew were alerted by an NSRI coast watcher of a kite boarder appearing to be in difficulty off-shore of Camps Bay.

NSRI Bakoven duty crew and NSRI Table Bay duty crews were activated.

While NSRI shore crew assisted our NSRI coast watcher to keep a visual of the kite boarder, in the fast fading daylight, who had deflated his kite and appeared to be attempting to swim towards Whale Rock, the NSRI Bakoven rescue craft Gemini Legend was launched while the NSRI Table Bay rescue craft Rescue 3 was prepared to be launched.

A public member using a SUP (Stand-Up Paddle Board) had launched into the surf at Camps Bay to attempt to assist the kite boarder.

On arrival on the scene NSRI located the man who had reached Whale Rock.

In the peak of the new moon Spring tide the NSRI rescue craft stood by 50 meters off-shore of Whale Rock.

2 NSRI rescue swimmers were deployed into the water. They reached the man on Whale Rock ascertaining that he was not injured with only mild hypothermia and minor lacerations to his feet he was safely swum to and recovered onto the rescue craft with his kite sail.

The adult man was brought to the NSRI Bakoven rescue station aboard Gemini Legend where he was treated for mild hypothermia and first aid treatment administered for minor lacerations and abrasions sustained to his feet (believed to be caused after his feet reportedly got entangled in the kite lines and from clambering onto Whale Rock) before being released requiring no further assistance.

A WC Government Health EMS ambulance that was dispatched by EMS Metro Control was stood down from responding.

Following investigations into the safety and wellbeing of the paddler on the SUP – that man was found to have reached the shore safely and he required no assistance.

It appears that the Austrian tourist kite-boarder had launched at Camps Bay while his friend, also an Austrian tourist kite-boarder, and had kept a visual on his friend from the shoreline. They had decided to kite board at Camps Bay at sunset instead of driving to Bloubergstrand where they normally kite-board. They are staying in South Africa for a month.

NSRI are appealing to public members and the maritime community to be on the look-out for a white and light green DUOTONE JAIME 2021 kite-board that remains missing at sea related to this incident at Camps Bay.
Call 0823803800 NSRI COMMS or 0870949774 NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) if you locate, recover or see the kite-board.