Andre Fraser, NSRI Mossel Bay coxswain, said: At 16h06, Friday, 29 August, ourNSRI Mossel Bay duty controller was alerted to eyewitness reports of a young man appearing to be distressed on rocks offshore of Die Poort, at The Point, Mossel Bay.
NSRI rescue swimmers responded to the scene to investigate where it was found that a local 20 year old male had found himself cut off from main land in the rising high tide and appearing to be getting increasingly in more distress as the high tide increased with waves threatening to engulf the rocks that he was on.
It became evident that the rocks that the young man was on would be engulfed by waves in the rising tide.
Our NSRI duty crew were activated and responded to our NSRI Mossel Bay station 15 rescue base where rescue equipment was collected and our NSRI rescue vehicle responded to the scene.
The SA Police Services, Mossel Bay Fire and Rescue Services and WC Government Health EMS were activated.
Police WPDS (Water Policing and Diving Services) were alerted.
On arrival on the scene NSRI rescue swimmers, accompanied by rescue ropes, an extra life-jacket and protective equipment, were deployed into the water and reached the young man on the rocks, securing him into a life-jacket and protective gear.
Timing the incoming wave sets, that had by that stage increased in intensity causing strong currents flowing around the rocks, in the channel between mainland and the rocks – during a lull in the incoming wave sets – in the care of the NSRI rescue swimmers, with NSRI shore crew controlling tension on the ropes, the man was swum safely to the shoreline, accompanied and secured by NSRI rescue swimmers and he was recovered safely without incident.
Suffering from hypothermia the man was brought to our NSRI rescue base and rewarmed and then we transported him home and no further assistance was required.
The swift response and the quick actions employed to get the man ashore safely is commended.
The eyewitness is commended for swiftly raising the alarm.
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