Two fishermen who became stranded on a rock during Spring tide were brought to safety by the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) on Saturday afternoon, November 14.
The NSRI Kleinmond and NSRI Gordons Bay duty crews were activated following reports from the family members of fishermen stuck on a rock at Rooi Els beach, who were cut off from the mainland by the Spring high tide.
“The men had been fishing from the rocks during the Spring low tide but at high tide they were unable to get back to mainland and their family members who were on the scene on the mainland side raised the alarm,” said NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon.
With the next low tide expected only later that night, the priority was to get them off the rocks as soon as possible.
NSRI Kleinmond and NSRI Gordons Bay dispatched sea rescue vehicles, with NSRI rescue swimmers on board, to the scene.
Overberg Traffic Services and GB Med Security ambulance services were dispatched while the Overberg division of WC Government Health EMS was placed on alert.
“It was established that sea conditions were not favourable to send rescue swimmers across a channel of water in big surf conditions to the men and a boat rescue was ruled out. A helicopter rescue operation was deemed to be the safest option,” Lambinon said.
The NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) alerted WC Government Health EMS Metro Control who activated their EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter and an EMS rescue squad was dispatched.
NSRI members and Overberg Traffic Services established a landing zone for the helicopter on Clarence Drive and WSAR (Wilderness Search and Rescue) dispatched an LZ (landing zone) team to assist at the landing zone.
NSRI rescue swimmers reached rocks near the men who were both safe on the rock and determined that they were in no immediate danger. The men were advised to stay where they were and to prepare themselves for the arrival of the helicopter.
The EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter arrived on the scene and deployed an EMS rescue technician onto the rock to secure both men and to prepare them to be airlifted onto the mainland.
Both men were static line hoisted by the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter to the landing zone on Clarence Drive.
They were medically assessed by GB Med Security paramedics and they required no further assistance.
The NSRI commends all involved parties for their quick reaction.
Credit: NSRI pic.twitter.com/1TUJ2Mbuof
— Anita Froneman (@anita_froneman) November 15, 2020
Picture: Screenshot from video