Thanks to the swift responses of the National Sea Rescue Institute’s (NSRI) duty crews and good Samaritans, a local couple was rescued after experiencing difficulty offshore of Rooi-Els.
Ryan Holmes, NSRI Gordon’s Bay station commander, stated the NSRI Kleinmond duty crew was activated following reports of a boat with two crew members, a husband and wife from Gordon’s Bay, in distress and threatening to run aground at 10:07 on Saturday 29 March.
“The NSRI Gordon’s Bay duty crew was placed on standby,” said Holmes. “At least four local boats, manned by good Samaritans, responded to the scene. The two crew members were rescued onto a private local boat, which then attempted to tow the distressed vessel away from the shoreline. However, the distressed vessel capsized. The skipper of the private boat reported potential injuries as they headed towards Gordon’s Bay.
“NSRI Kleinmond dispatched their rescue vehicle, towing their JetRib rescue craft, and an NSRI Gordon’s Bay rescue vehicle responded, while the NSRI Gordon’s Bay rescue craft, Spirit of Surfski, was launched. Our NSRI Gordon’s Bay rescue craft rendezvoused with the private good Samaritan boat at Rooi-Els, where the two rescued individuals were transferred onto the NSRI rescue craft, and medical treatment commenced. The capsized vessel was close to the shoreline and deemed unrecoverable at that time.”
Holmes further stated that the NSRI Emergency Operations Centre alerted Western Cape Government Health EMS Metro and an EMS ambulance was dispatched to the NSRI Gordon’s Bay Station 9 rescue base.
“The two rescued individuals were assessed and treated by EMS paramedics, requiring no further assistance. They were then reunited with their family members. The capsized vessel remains adrift, semi-submerged. A navigational warning has been broadcast by Telkom Maritime Radio Services. The owner will arrange for its recovery. The assistance by the local private boats, which contributed significantly to saving the lives, is highly commended,” Holmes said.
