At 15h30, Tuesday, 26th December, NSRI Gordons Bay duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) following reports of a drowning in progress in the surf below Crystal Pools, between Gordons Bay and Koegel Bay.
The sea rescue craft Jack and Irene was launched and a sea rescue vehicle, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services rescue divers and WC Government Health EMS responded to join Provincial Traffic Services who were already on the scene after being flagged down by bystanders reporting a father and son in the surf and in difficulty.
It appears that the 34 year old male, from Athlone, and his 10 year old son were fishing from rocks when the child was swept into the surf by waves and his dad jumped in to help but both got into difficulty.
On the NSRI sea rescue craft arriving on the scene the child was rescued from the surf and during a search, 7 minutes later the dad was spotted and he was rescued onto the sea rescue craft where NSRI medics initiated CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) efforts on the dad while the sea rescue craft raced to the NSRI base in Gordons Bay where they were met by paramedics.
Despite extensive CPR efforts and after all efforts to resuscitate the dad were exhausted on the scene the 34 year old man has sadly been declared deceased.
The child has been transported to hospital by EMS ambulance in a stable condition for treatment for shock and for observation for secondary drowning symptoms.
The body of the deceased man has been taken into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services and Police have opened an inquest docket.
Trauma Counsellors are assisting the family and Condolences are conveyed by all emergency services involved.
BLOUBERGSTRAND:
At 14h00, NSRI Melkbosstrand duty crew launched the sea rescue craft Rotaries Gift and Spirit of Brenda to initiate a search for a 38 year old Frenchman, from Paris, who had launched a hired windsurfer at 11a.m. and had failed to return.
NSRI Table Bay dispatched the sea rescue craft Spirit of Vodacom and Spirit of Day to join in the search and lifeguards along the coast at Milnerton Life Saving Club (LSC), Blouberg LSC and Silverstroomstrand LSC were alerted to keep a look out, and after no sign of the man could be found the WC Government Health EMS dispatched the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter.
During an extensive search NSRI were contacted by Robben Island Security who reported that a windsurfer had come ashore at Robben Island at 16h30.
The NSRI Table Bay sea rescue craft were dispatched to Robben Island and the Skymed rescue helicopter also responded to the Island and on arrival it was confirmed that it was the Frenchman.
An experienced windsurfer, the wind had suddenly dropped at 15h00 and unable to get the sail up, and finding himself closer to Robben Island than to Mainland he paddled to Robben Island and sought help.
He was airlifted to Mainland by Skymed to the NSRI base in Melkbosstrand where he was reunited with his family and not injured he required no further assistance.
NSRI commend all services and concerned bystanders who assisted in the search.
SOETWATER:
At 16h08, CMR (Cape Medical Response), were activated to reports of CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) in progress at an education camp in Soetwater where a man suspected to have been diving had been recovered after being found floating unresponsive in the water.
Bystanders had initiated CPR and CMR dispatched an ambulance and response paramedics and activated NSRI Kommetjie.
CMR paramedics assisted by NSRI medics conducted extensive CPR efforts but sadly despite extensive CPR efforts and after all efforts to resuscitate the 63 year old man, from Athlone, were exhausted on the scene the man has been declared deceased.
The body of the deceased man has been taken into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services and Police have opened an inquest docket.
Police have opened an inquest docket.
WITSAND:
At 11h00, Tuesday, 26th December, NSRI Still Bay duty crew launched the sea rescue craft Colorpress rescuerand Spirit of St Francis following reports of a boat, with 3 male crew onboard in difficulty at Morris Point.
On arrival on the scene the hellcat Geronimo was found smashed on rocks and the 3 crew were safe on the rocks but one male suffered lacerations to his leg.
They were brought to Still bay aboard the sea rescue craft and the injured man was taken to a local doctor for treatment.
They will investigate options to try to recover their boat.
