A number of boating incidents occurred this past weekend after the five-day Trans Agulhas inflatable boat race kicked off on Saturday December 28.
At 9.07am on Saturday the NSRI Plettenberg Bay quickly responded to an alert of a Trans Agulhas competitor boat containing two males that had capsized off-shore of Robberg Point. In Knysna the NSRI were alerted of another Trans Agulhas competitor boat had capsized near Buffalo Bay at 11.36am, but the casualty crew were able to self-recover the boat.
In Wilderness, a third Trans Agulhas competitor boat near Herold’s Bay had capsized after being blown by a strong South Easterly wind past Voelklip. NSRI Wilderness were alerted at 11.38am and towed the boat back to Herold’s Bay. The George Municipality Fire & Rescue were first on the scene and assisted the casualties, all of whom were assessed by an ER24 paramedic. According to the NSRI, one casualty was taken to hospital for suspected rib injuries.
At 6.56am NSRI Port Alfred were alerted to reports of a rigid inflatable boat with a male and female onboard that had capsized in the Kowie River Mouth and had been been sucked out the mouth by strong currents. The crew were able to rescue the passengers who are both from Queenstown.
In another case, a 16 foot Catamaran power boat capsized off-shore of Port Alfred that same morning. Upon arrival the NSRI crew found a man clinging on to the upturned hull, with a reported two other men trapped in the cabin below water.
“NSRI rescue swimmers were deployed into the water to free dive to search for the two men when at that time both men surfaced and they were rescued onto the sea rescue craft,” says NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon.
On the same day, Knysna NSRI assisted three persons in difficulty in the surf in Buffalo Bay. Luckily all were transported to hospital in stable conditions.
On Sunday December 29, NSRI Hout Bay duty crew launched a rescue craft following a report of a male child passenger that had suffered a head laceration after bumping his head onboard. The child was treated and no further assistance was required.
The NSRI continue to warn locals of water safety over the festive season.
Also read: Drownings in Cape Town increase year on year
Picture: Facebook / NSRI