Notices
The CWR squad was activated at 5:25 am on Friday 16 December 2022 following reports of a swimmer in distress at Humewood Beach.
On arrival, a shore search was done, but no swimmers could be located, the squad members moved onto Hobie Beach to ensure there were no swimmers in distress there either.
Later via the NSRI crew, it was learned that the caller heard somebody calling for help, but that the "casualty" was a very inebriated gentleman shouting Happy Happy from the water, as there was no emergency the squad was stood down, and the responding members went for a refreshing swim at Hobie Beach.
Services on scene: Coastal Water Rescue, NSRI Station 6.
On Thursday 08 Dec 2022 the CWR squad was activated following reports of a possible missing person in the water next the Humewood Beach. A bystander had reported that she observed somebody going into the water, and later when she looked she could not locate him.
On arrival CWR squad swimmers joined lifeguards from the Beach Office who were already busy searching the area, and Rescue 6B from the NSRI was launched from the harbour to assist with the water search.
After an extensive search of over an hour, it was decided to call the search off, at which time no more information was available, and no missing person had been reported at any of the lifeguard stations either.
Services on scene, CWR, NSRI, Beach Office, Fire Department and EMS..
On 18 Nov 2022, the CWR squad was activated to respond to the Wildside, location being near the anchor at Willow Grove following reports that a boat had capsized and that there were people in the water.
On arrival it was established that it was a commercial dive boat with 5 people onboard that had capsized in the swell, the skipper managed to swim to shore, and the remaining casualties remained in the water near the vessel.
Both the NSRI Station 6 and the Beach Office launched their craft at Noordhoek and responded to the scene. Swimmers from the Beach Office and CWR were at the water's edge should a shore entry be required.
NSRI's Rescue 6C reached the casualties in the water and successfully retrieved them.
As no further assistance was required a stand down was issued to the squad.
Sean Lunnon, NSRI Gqeberha duty coxswain, said:
At 09h04, Friday, 18 November, NSRI Gqeberha duty crew were activated following reports of a boat capsized at Noordhoek.
NSRI crew responded to our NSRI rescue station in the Port of Port Elizabeth where the NSRI rescue craft Rescue 6 Alpha was launched. NSRI crew responded to our NSRI Noordhoek satellite rescue station where the NSRI rescue craft Eddie Beaumont II was launched.
Our NSRI rescue vehicle, SA Police Services, a Police Dive Unit, a Police K9 Search and Rescue Unit, EC Government Health EMS, Coastal Water Rescue, NMB (Nelson Mandela Bay) Beach Office and NMB lifeguards responded.
NMB lifeguards launched a rescue jet ski at Noordhoek.
While responding to the scene it was confirmed that 5 casualties were in the water at a capsized RHIB (rigid hull inflatable boat) that had capsized 3 nautical miles West of Noordhoek, half a nautical mile off-shore.
On arrival on the scene the skipper, an adult male, was found to have safely swum to shore.
4 adult males were found clinging to the upturned hull of their capsized casualty craft.
All 5 crew were accounted for.
NSRI rescue swimmers were deployed from our NSRI rescue craft into the water at the capsized casualty craft.
2 of the casualties were rescued onto an NSRI rescue craft.
2 NSRI rescue swimmers and 2 of the casualty crew remained in the water where they assisted the NSRI rescue craft to right the casualty craft.
Once the casualty craft was righted they were taken onboard, a towline was established from an NSRI rescue craft and the casualty craft was towed to shore where the craft was recovered.
There were no injuries and no further assistance was required.
The swift response is commended.
On Wednesday 15 Nov 2022 the CWR squad was activated to respond to Brighton Beach following reports received of a drowning in progress.
On arrival it was noted that the incident happened more than an hour prior to the alert, and due to dangerous seas conditions rescue swimmers were not sent into the water.
The Beach Office launched their craft and performed an extensive water search.
On Saturday 05 November 2022 the CWR squad was activated at 17:57 following requests for assistance from the Beach Office, they had reports of a missing 10 year old female at Humewood Beach.
After arriving on scene did more information become available that the girl was last seen walking into Happy Valley with an unknown woman, and was not last seen in the water as previously reported.
The Beach Office craft, and the jetrib from the NSRI Station was on scene doing a search.
The squad was stood down as no further assistance was required.
The CWR squad was activated at 12:59 today following reports of a drowning in progress at Cape Recife.
After arrival on scene more information became available that a body was found floating in the water by beach walkers who called it in.
The squad was stood down as no assistance was required and the SAPS took over.
Services on scene: CWR, SAPS Divers, SAPS S&R, NSRI Station 6, Fire Department, EMS.
