Notices
This afternoon, 19 Sep 2023 the Coastal Water Rescue squad was activated at 16:50 following a report of a swimmer in trouble in the water opposite Willows Holiday Resort.
The CWR squad on arrival, quickly had a sighting of the swimmer in the water who was located in the backline of the breakers. Whilst the swimmer was buoyant and had been initially snorkeling, he was signaling distress to bystanders on the shoreline. Whilst CWR swimmers prepared to enter the water, a fishing vessel called Mia Barka, who was positioned in the area, was called on the marine channel for assistance. Mia Barka immediately changed heading towards Willows.
Communication with the vessel was handed over to the NSRI crew on scene, who directed the vessel as close to the swimmer as possible. The fishing vessel successfully rescued the swimmer from the water. At this point, the casualty was roughly 500m offshore.
NSRI craft responded from Noordhoek Skiboat Club, met up with Mia Barka opposite Willows Resorts, transferred the swimmer onto their craft, and returned to Noordhoek Ski Boat Club
The casualty was in good spirits and returned to Willows Holiday Resort for a well-deserved rest.
Services on scene: Coastal Water Rescue, NSRI Station 6, Gardmed, Darkwater Ops.
On Saturday, 16th Sep 2023, CWR was activated at 08h15 to a report of a 9-year-old child stuck in the middle of a dam in Struanway, New Brighton.
On arrival, CWR members received conflicting information from the public, so they immediately initiated a search of the area surrounding the waters edge. An adult male was found semi conscious in the mud 20mtrs from the waters edge.
CWR members extracted him to the side, and the patient whilst being assessed was wrapped in an emergency blanket for warmth.
Patient care was handed over to Metro EMS, who continued the treatment. Unfortunately, the casualty became unresponsive and stopped breathing.
CPR was immediately started with the assistance of Beach Office and CWR.
The CPR continued until the casualty was loaded into the ambulance.
Services on scene: Coastal Water Rescue, EMS, Beach Office, SAPS Sector Vehicle
On Sunday 03 Sep 2023 the CWR squad was activated following reports of a motor vehicle accident on the M19, where the vehicle left the road and was in the river.
On arrival it was established that the vehicle was in very shallow water, crews from the Fire Department, EMS and Gardmed were already busy with a casualty in the vehicle and that no swimmer assistance was required.
A stand down was issued to the squad, and the members already on the scene assisted with lifting the casualty from the vehicle on a rescue board.
On Tuesday 01 Aug 2023, CWR was activated at 21h17 following reports of a possible suicide in progress at the Shark Rock Pier, Hobie Beach. Bystanders on the Pier had observed an adult male jumping off.
On arrival, it was confirmed that an adult male had jumped off the end of the pier and was last seen floating away in the direction of the harbour.
A visual search from the Pier was started with the aide of spotlights and supported by CWR members who had entered the water to conduct a water search. Due to reduced visibility in the water, CWR members subsequently moved their search to the shoreline.
NSRI Station 6 launched Rescue 6A from the harbour and started an extensive grid search of the area.
The search was called off after 11pm.
Services on scene: Coastal Water Rescue, NSRI Station 6, SAPS Divers, SAPS Humewood, Metro Police
On Friday 02 June 2023, the CWR squad was activated by the Water Emergency Rescue Committee to a drowning in progress at Maitlands Beach.
Employees of a local nursery went for an outing to Maitlands beach, where one employee decided to enter the sea for a swim. He disappeared shortly after, presumed to have been caught in a rip current and swept out to sea.
Multiple water rescue services were activated. The different services provided a coordinated, extensive search of the area. CWR members undertake a shoreline search, the EMS Provincial Helicopter (MW7) provided an aerial search, the municipal Beach Office deployed rescue swimmers to search the surf zone and NSRI Station 6 deployed their jetrib for a sea search.
The search was called off after more than an hour on scene with no sight of the missing employee.
Services on scene: Coastal Water Rescue, NSRI Station 6, EMS, EMS Helicopter, Beach Office, Fire & Emergency NMB.
The CWR squad was activated on Sunday, 05 Feb 2023, at 12:34, following reports of a drowning in progress at the Van der Kemp's Kloof Nature Reserve dam.
On arrival, it was found that a single male entered the water and subsequently got into difficulty and disappeared underwater. Friends and bystanders attempted to assist but were unable to locate him.
CWR swimmers were deployed into the water as they arrived at the location to perform a water search. After searching for about 35 minutes, the (deceased) casualty was located, retrieved from the water, and handed over to the SAPS divers.
Services on Scene: SAPS Dive Unit, EMS, EMS Rescue, EMS Helicopter MW2, SAPS Sector Vehicle.
