Notices
The CWR squad was activated at 19:24 tonight, 17 June 2024, to respond to Noordhoek following unconfirmed reports of two divers in trouble near Noordhoek.
NSRI Station 6 sent their vehicle, RV6, to investigate. When CWR crew members arrived on the scene, they met up with swimmers from the NSRI near the water's edge. It was then confirmed that there was a single casualty in the water. The casualty was too far off-shore to attempt shore-entry rescue, and the NSRI would launch their rescue craft, Rescue 6A, from the harbour. The ETA for R6A, however, was about one hour.
CWR squad members remained on scene to monitor, with 3 CWR swimmers moving towards the last sighting of the casualty (who was indicating his position with a torch). With the weather conditions and being in the dark, moving towards the water's edge was slow, but soon they noticed that the casualty had made it out of the water safely; CWR swimmers met up with him and accompanied him back off the rocks.
Services on scene: SAPS K9, Coastal Water Rescue, NSRI Station 6
Earlier today at 11:05, the CWR squad was activated following reports of a drowning that occurred in the Swartkop River, next to Mel Brooks Avenue, Kariega; two people attempted to cross the river, with one swept away in the strong current.
The SAPS Divers & S&R performed a water search, with Coastal Water Rescue members lending operational support and assistance to the dive team.
On Friday 23 Feb 2024 the CWR squad was activated at 9:05am to respond to the Swartkops River mouth after a report was received that a small boat had capsized, and that there were two people in the water.
The rescue crew from the BWBLSC was busy in their rescue room when a bystander who witnessed the event alerted them; they immediately launched their rescue IRB to go and assist.
One casualty was found in good health standing on a sand bank, but the skipper was still missing; they were both wearing bright orange life jackets.
The BWBLSC duck found the second casualty, the skipper, near the overturned boat, a 4.2m Boston Whaler. They retrieved him and rushed him back to shore.
The skipper was attended to by EMS and transported to the hospital for observation.
NSRI Station 6 launched their rescue craft 6A from the harbour to assist with the retrieval of the overturned boat. They managed to right it, and it was towed back to the harbour.
Well done BWBLSC for the quick response to this incident!
The CWR squad was activated at 07h52 to respond to a drowning in progress at Salt Lake Missionvale.
CWR response units joined Metro EMS teams en route to the scene as the exact location was difficult to find.
On arrival, it was established that two young boys aged 10 and 11 got into trouble whilst swimming in the salt pans.
Both children were found washed up on the side of the salt pans. Both were declared deceased by Metro EMS.
Services on scene: NMB EMS, SAPS Diving Unit, SAPS Section Vehicle, ECDOH FPS and Coastal Water Rescue.
On Sunday 21st Jan 2024, a report was received via (WERC) Water Emergency Rescue Committee, about a kite surfer in trouble at Sardinia Bay. Municipal lifeguards on duty observed the kite surfer far offshore in the water having difficulty with relaunching his kite
Upon arrival, CWR squad members' initial sighting of him placed him around 300 meters offshore with the kite and kite surfer floating together in the water.
A fellow kite surfer launched and assisted by towing him around 200m off shore.
Due to the prevailing winds, there were fears that he would end up on the rocks at the start of the Sacramento Hiking Trail.
When CWR rescue swimmers entered the water, the kite surfer reached a sandbank just behind a rock formation in the wave-breaking zone, 50 meters offshore.
Three CWR rescue swimmers managed to assist him to safety, battling a strong rip current and heavy waves.
His kite was retrieved by members of NSRI.
On Tuesday 19:02 the Coastal Water Rescue squad was activated to respond to Sundays River in Colchester following reports of a drowning occurred.
Teenagers from the local community were swimming in the river, and two of them got into trouble after jumping off the jetty. Eye witnesses saw them jump into the river, they emerged briefly, and the next time he saw them there were about 40 meters away from the jetty and submerged, they were not seen again.
Squad members were deployed into the water to start an underwater search from the jetty towards the indicated location.
The bodies of both casualties were located after searching for about 45 minutes, and the scene was handed over the SAPS.
On Tuesday 09 January 2024 the Coastal Water Rescue squad was activated at 16:09 following reports of a drowning in progress at Hobie Beach.
On arrival it was found that a casualty had been submerged and was removed from the water.
The casualty refused any assistance. His family members were given the necessary info and advice to have him checked by medical personnel as soon as possible as secondary drowning is a risk, and a stand down was issued to the CWR members.
