Incidents at Cape Point, Mossel Bay and Hartbeespoort Dam

The NSRI are appealing to the public to follow SAWS (South African Weather Services) forecast weather updates and adhere to SAWS weather warnings.

It appears that rough sea conditions are forecast by SAWS to spread around the coastline and rough seas and gale force winds are causing hazardous inshore sea conditions and hazardous shoreline conditions compounded by the spring tide in places.

We are appealing to the commercial maritime industry that are at sea to wear life jackets during commercial operations.

Sea conditions during this inclement weather are compounded by this cold front happening during the new moon Spring tide that peaked in the early hours of Saturday morning and that will extend into about the middle of the new week.

We are appealing to extreme sports and sport fishing craft to preferably not launch in these current inclement weather conditions that are expected, by SAWS, to extend into Monday.

Anglers and coastal hikers should be aware of the Spring high tide with shoreline conditions compounded by rough seas that may cut off coastline areas during the high tide.

Inland waterways, rivers, lakes and dams are expected, in places, to flood and/or swell where heavy rainfall is forecast by SAWS.

Do not cross through flooded roadways or cross bridges over river ways that are submerged by swollen rivers.

NSRI, maritime authorities, local Municipalities, the emergency services, the SA Police Services and DRM (Disaster Risk Management) are on high alert.

We appeal to everyone to remain safe during the inclement weather and to follow SAWS updated forecasts and SAWS weather warnings.

Don’t take unnecessary risks and Lets Keep Each Other Safe!

SIMONSTOWN:

Simon McDonnell, NSRI Simonstown station commander, said:

At 14h27, Saturday, 6 July, NSRI Simonstown duty crew were activated following a request from local coast watcher Ski-Boat Mobile to assist a RHIB (rigid hull inflatable boat) with a dad, mom and their young son onboard – their craft experienced motor failure.

They confirmed they had put to anchor off-shore of Smitswinkel Bay, Cape Point, but they were drifting despite putting to anchor.

Our NSRI Simonstown duty crew responded to our NSRI station 10 rescue base where we launched the NSRI Simonstown rescue vessel Donna Nicholas.

We had a rescue crew remain on station ready and prepared to launch our rescue craft Jack & Irene if it became necessary.

In good sea conditions we reached the casualty craft finding the Cape Town family to be safe.

We established a light towline and towed them to the FBYC (False Bay Yacht Club), at Simonstown harbour, without incident.

We then transported the mom to Millers Point, where they had launched from earlier, where she collected their vehicle and their boat trailer and we assisted them to recover their craft at the FBYC slipway.

No further assistance was required and the operation was completed at 17h32.

MOSSEL BAY:

Dawie Zwiegelaar, NSRI Mossel Bay duty coxswain, said:

At 15h59, Saturday, 6 July, NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew were activated to assist a husband and wife, and their female friend, reportedly trapped on rocks by the incoming Spring high tide, at Glentana.

NSRI rescue swimmers, in their private vehicles, our NSRI rescue vehicle, carrying NSRI rescue swimmers, and Mossel Bay Fire and Rescue Services responded.

WC Government Health EMS and the SA Police Services – SAPS WPDS (Water Policing and Diving Services) remained on alert.

On arrival on the scene we located the nearest access point to the 3 adults who were trapped by the high tide on rocks over a gulley.

2 NSRI rescue swimmers, assisted by 2 local community members (Good Samaritans who are familiar with the area with local knowledge and who volunteered to assist us), accessed the gulley down a cliff path and waded through waist deep water – timing the incoming wave sets and during a lull in the incoming waves – to reach the 3 casualties.

Secured into life jackets they were assisted by the NSRI rescue swimmers and the 2 Good Samaritans to reach mainland and traverse a cliff, without incident, and once safely at the main car park they required no further assistance.

The 3 Johannesburg adults are commended for raising the alarm and waiting for assistance rather than risking wading through the channel or waiting for low tide which would have only been well after 22h00.

The 2 local Good Samaritans are commended for their assistance in this operation.

The operation was completed at 18h32.

HARTBEESPOORT DAM:

Arthur Crewe, NSRI Vaal Dam station commander, said:

At around 16h00, Saturday, 6 July, during a routine training exercise, our NSRI Hartbeespoort Dam rescue crew, onboard the NSRI rescue craft Sea Legs, diverted to investigate a small craft appearing to be in difficulties on Hartbeespoort dam.

On arrival at the craft we found 2 local male teenagers, from the Transvaal Yacht Club, onboard their craft that was experiencing steering failure.

While assisting them to establish their emergency steering arm, from their front hatch, we noticed that their Port side battery was smoking.

Isolators were shut off to prevent any further complications and we towed them to the yacht club without incident and no further assistance was required.