Johan Ehlers, NSRI Mossel Bay duty coxswain, said: At 22h17, Tuesday, 21 May, NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew were activated following eyewitness reports of a suspected drowning in progress at Beacon Wharf, Mossel Bay – near to Mossel Bay harbour
Our NSRI rescue vehicle and NSRI rescue swimmers, in their private vehicles, By Grace ambulance services the SA Police Services, WC Government Health EMS – rescue squad and ambulance – and Mossel Bay Fire and Rescue Services responded.
It was reported from eyewitnesses that shouts for help were coming from the area in the surf zone at Beacon Wharf.
Police Sea Borderline Control, SAPS WPDS (Water Policing and Diving Services) and Mossel Bay harbour Port Control were placed on alert.
On arrival on the scene paramedics attended to a man who was found in shallow surf near to rocks at Beacon Wharf.
It appears that the local adult man may have slipped on rocks, while fishing, when incoming waves swept him into a channel in between rocks.
NSRI rescue swimmers assisted paramedics to extricate the man from the rocks, secured onto a scoop stretcher.
The man, in a serious condition, with injuries and hypothermia, was transported to hospital by EMS ambulance, in a serious but stable condition, where he is recovering in the care of doctors and hospital staff.
The eyewitnesses are commended for raising the alarm and the swift response by all involved is commended.
NSRI NATIONAL SAFETY ALERT:
NSRI, in cooperation with Police, maritime authorities, DRM (Disaster Risk Management) and the emergency services are appealing to boaters, sailors, paddlers, bathers, anglers and coastal hikers to be aware of a SAWS (South African Weather Services) warning – alerting to rough sea conditions and big waves along the West Coast coastline, Western Cape Coast coastline, South Cape Coast coastline and potentially extending beyond – for the next few days and into the coming weekend.
We are appealing to public and to the maritime community to follow SAWS weather alerts.
The SAWS forecast rough sea conditions may also be affected by the full moon Spring tide that peaks on Thursday, 23rd of May – bringing the normal daily 2 high tides and normal daily 2 low tides to be higher than normal at high tide and to be lower than normal at low tide.
Spring tide may cause stronger than normal rip currents and areas that are not normally affected by waves at high tide may be engulfed by waves during the Spring high tide.
Caution is advised and we appeal to public members and to the maritime community to have safety top of mind.
Anglers should note high tide times and stay clear from the shoreline during the 2 daily high tides.
Anglers should avoid crossing to islands along the coastline during the low tide – to fish – as these islands can be cut off from mainland during high tide.
Coastal hikers should not try to cross at river mouths, where currents can be particularly strong during the outgoing tide, and do not try to cross through hiking trails that are close to the shoreline during high tide (where Spring high tide can cut off shoreline hiking trails).
Boaters, sailors and paddlers should wear their life jackets while their craft and/or their vessels are underway and to wear life jackets during rough sea conditions, and to always have safety equipment at the ready
For enhanced safety, download and use the NSRI’s free SafeTrx smartphone application: [SafeTrx] https://www.nsri.org.za/water-safety/safetrx/.
We emphasize the importance of safety during these conditions. Exercise caution and prioritize your safety and the safety of those around you.
LETS KEEP EACH OTHER SAFE.
Lucky Brandy
Israel: You have two cows. You expand their farmland every year.
Czr
Bitter koud — very cold. An Afrikaans phrase meaning ‘bitter cold’, often used to describe the cold weather during winter.Example: “Oh, my gosh! It’s bitter koud outside!”