Mike Meyer, SA Whale Disentanglement Unit (SAWDU), said: “On Saturday 14 August at 11h15 the SA Whale Disentanglement Unit were activated following reports of an 8 to 10 metre young Southern Right whale spotted entangled in rock lobster rope and floatation buoys in the vicinity between Gordon’s Bay and Koegel Bay.

The whale was spotted swimming between Gordon’s Bay and Koegel Bay and numerous sightings had been reported by eye-witnesses.

The whale had first been spotted on Friday night 13 August by private boats in False Bay and efforts, by the City of Cape Town’s Department of Environmental Affairs – Oceans and Coast, to find the whale had been called off at last light and on Saturday morning the Department of Environmental Affairs Coastal Patrol fixed wing aircraft, which happened to be in the air and in the area on normal patrol operations at the time, was asked to try to spot the whale but no sightings were made and a request was made on Maritime vhf radio frequencies for private vessels in the area to keep a lookout for the whale.

At 11h09 on Saturday the private craft Southern Right happened to spot the whale and they called the NSRI.

Two NSRI sea rescue craft were dispatched by sea rescue Gordon’s Bay, the Sanlam Rescuer and the Douglas Murray, and the whale was found off Steenbras Point where specialised disentanglement equipment was used by SAWDU volunteers to free the whale from it’s entanglement.

Once the whale had been successfully freed the young whale swam off appearing to be in a healthy state.

Southern Right Whale Entangled. Photograph courtesy of SAWDU.

Some of the specialised equipment that was used during the rescue operation was damaged. It is quite normal during these rescue operations for the equipment being used to get damaged due to the unpredictable behaviour of these large animals. All the equipment is sponsored or donated to the SAWDU volunteers to carry out these operations.”

The SA Whale Disentanglement Unit is a specialised unit that set up a network of volunteers in 2006 to deal with these types of situations and comprises volunteers – from NSRIi, the Department of Environmental Affairs – Oceans and Coast, SA National Parks, Cape Nature, the SA Police Services, various aquariums from around South Africa, the Natal Sharks Board, various other organisations and volunteers, with the support of the Dolphin Action and Protection Group (DAPG).

SADWU covers the entire SA coastline.

Stuart Burgess, NSRI Gordon’s Bay duty coxswain said: “On Tuesday, 02 March at 18h54 NSRI Gordon’s Bay duty crew were activated following reports of red distress flares being activated in the vicinity of Harbour Island.

“The NSRI Gordon’s Bay members were on base at the time preparing for a monthly crew meeting and immediately launched our rescue craft.

“On arrival on-scene a group of surf-skiers were found approximately ¾ nautical miles off-shore and it was established that one of the surf-skiers, a 49 year old local man, had sustained a suspected heart attack while taking part in a regular organised “downwind” paddle from Gordon’s Bay to the Strand in which 28 surf-skiers were taking part.

Sea conditions were gusting to 30 knot South Easterly winds and choppy seas.

“The surf-skier, who was being kept out of the water by three fellow paddlers who were using their surf-ski’s to keep the man’s body afloat, was immediately transferred on-board our rescue craft and he presented with no pulse and no breathing and Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) efforts were immediately commenced by our NSRI paramedic while the rescue craft returned to our rescue base.

“Once ashore paramedics continued with CPR but after all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted he was declared dead.

“A brief search was then conducted for two men on a double surf-ski who had assisted in the rescue but they were found safe.

“While it is suspected that the man suffered a heart attack a post mortem will determine the exact cause of death.”

At 18h06 NSRI Hout Bay, the Metro Ambulance and Rescue Services, the SA Police Services and the Metro Red Cross AMS helicopter were activated following reports of a man fallen from the main view point at Chapman’s Peak Drive.

Brad Geyser, NSRI Hout Bay station commander said that on arrival on-scene it was determined that a man had allegedly fallen from the mountain and it is believed that his female partner, who was with him at the time, had attempted to go to his aid but it appears that she had gotten into difficulty herself and she became trapped on a ledge with some injuries.

Brad said that two NSRI rescue craft had searched for the man in the sea and during the search the body of the man was recovered onto an NSRI rescue craft and taken to the NSRI Hout Bay rescue base and handed into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services.

The female was rescued by a Metro Rescue team using high angle equipment and she has been treated for minor injuries.

Police have opened an inquest docket into the death of the man.

During the rescue operation a “Hout Bay Surf Rescue” crew launched their rescue rubber-duck to respond to this operation but they capsized and were rescued by the NSRI. Brad said that the NSRI rescue craft towed the capsized craft to Hout Bay harbour. Neither of the two “Hout Bay Surf Rescue” crewmen were injured.

At 23h40 NSRI Hout Bay was activated following reports from the Maritime Radio Services of a yacht run onto rocks near to “Fish on the Rocks”.

Brad Geyser said that prior to launching the NSRI Hout Bay’s rescue craft it was confirmed that the crew aboard yacht Margarite Anne had freed themselves from a rocky reef and had motored into Hout Bay unassisted.

Melkbosstrand:

At 15h23 NSRI Melkbosstrand responded to “Slabberts se Klippe”, half a kilometre from the NSRI Melkbosstrand rescue base, following reports of two men on a rubber duck firing off distress flares.

Rhine Barnes, NSRI Melkbosstrand station commander, said that on arrival on-scene the two men, Pierre van Niewenhuizen, 36, and Tinus Pretorius, 26, both from Durbanville, were found safe on the beach after a local kite-boarder had assisted to tow them ashore.

The two men had experienced engine failure on their rubber-duck approximately 500 metres off-shore and had fired the distress flares when a kite-boarder came to their assistance and assisted them ashore.

Rhine said that the NSRI duty crew loaded their boat onto an NSRI boat trailer and brought their boat to the NSRI rescue base where they required no further assistance.

Gordon’s Bay:

At 09h25 NSRI Gordon’s Bay, the SA Police Services, the Metro Ambulance and Rescue Services, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services and the Metro Red Cross AMS helicopter responded to Pringle Bay following reports of a dinghy boat being blown out to sea in a 25 knot off-shore wind with three young men on-board.

Stuart Burgess, NSRI Gordon’s Bay deputy station commander said that the rescue helicopter arrived on-scene first and found the three men clinging onto their sinking 3 metre fibreglass dinghy. They had only a pair of oars and no life-jackets on-board.

The rescue helicopter hovered above the men, who were now already 2 nautical miles off-shore, to mark their position for the responding NSRI rescue craft that was nearing the scene but suddenly the boat they were on capsized and semi-sunk so a rescue swimmer was deployed into the water from the rescue helicopter to secure the 3 men and to ensure their safety and when the rescue craft arrived all 3 men were rescued onto the rescue craft and brought to the NSRI rescue base in Gordon’s Bay where they were reunited with their families.

All 3 men, Byron Jansen, 20, Lezaan Pietersen, 22, Akiam Abrahams, 15, all from New Tafelsig, were treated for hypothermia and released requiring no further assistance.

Stuart said that it was especially noted that during the operation the NSRI rescue vehicle, carrying two NSRI rescue swimmers, which had responded to the land side of Pringle Bay, had acted as a communications relay to the responding helicopter and NSRI rescue boat providing essential information to the responding rescue resources that played a major role in this successful rescue operation.

At 10h44 on 14 November 2009, NSRI Gordon’s Bay were activated to respond to Rooi Els following reports of a husband and wife in difficulty on a rocky outcrop at Rooi Els.

Mark Burton, NSRI Gordon’s Bay station commander, said that the NSRI volunteer duty crew immediately launched the rescue craft Douglas Murray, and the SA Police Services, the Metro Ambulance and Rescue Services and the Metro Red Cross AMS helicopter responded.

On arrival on-scene it was determined that the husband and wife had been fishing from a rocky outcrop at Rooi Els. It appears that the husband, a 40 year old male from Lotus River, may have fallen and drowned. His body was recovered onto the rocks by an NSRI rescue swimmer.

The 38 year old wife of the deceased man, suffering from severe shock, was guided to safety over the rocky shore by an NSRI and Metro Rescue team.

The body of the deceased man has been recovered from the scene and handed into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services and the SA Police Services.

The deceased man’s wife is in the care of Police Trauma Counsellors.

Bloubergstrand and Kommetjie – Bulk Carriers swept close to shore:

On Tuesday afternoon at 13h50 NSRI Table Bay and NSRI Melkbosstrand were placed on alert by the Transnet National Ports Authority after the bulk carrier Doce River dragged anchor and drifted close to shore, off Bloubergstrand, before getting her engines started and moving out to deeper waters and out of harms way.

On Monday evening NSRI Kommetjie and NSRI Hout Bay were placed on alert by the Transnet National Ports Authority after the bulk carrier Kiran was swept towards shore in approximately 8 metre swells, off Slangkop Lighthouse, following engine failure, before the salvage vessel Smit Amandla towed the bulk carrier out to sea and to the safety of deeper water.

Struisbaai – Skipper of trawler casualty evacuated:

At 15h31 on Tuesday afternoon NSRI Agulhas responded aboard their rescue craft to 2 nautical miles off-shore of Struis Baai where the skipper of the Long Line Fishing Trawler Golden Eagle had sustained head and facial injuries after a steel door reportedly slammed shut in high winds hitting the skipper on the head.

Shane Kempen, NSRI Agulhas station commander said that the skipper, Loeries Noonies, 45, was brought ashore abourd the NSRI rescue craft and transported to a local doctor for sutures to a laceration to the head, lacerations to both eye-orbits and treatment for a fractured cheek bone.

Hout Bay – Search for a suspected missing man:

At 16h11 on Tuesday afternoon NSRI Hout Bay were activated following eye-witnesses reports of a man suspected of being swept off a Crayfish Bakkie (small open boat) drifting in the bay off Hout Bay near to Fish on the Rocks.

Brad Geyser, NSRI Hout Bay station commander said that a full-scale search, including two NSRI rescue craft, the SA Police Services, the Metro Ambulance and Rescue Services, Hout Bay Surf Lifesaving and the Police Dive Unit, in 7 metre swells, revealed no sign of anyone in any difficulty. The crayfish bakkie was found adrift at sea and has washed ashore on the opposite side of the bay but the crayfish bakkie was upright (it had not capsized) and we suspect it had been swept out to sea after the Spring Tides high tide swept it from its mooring on the shoreline.

Brad said that some other eye-witnesses had claimed that they had seen the crayfish bakkie being swept out to sea with no one on-board.

Brad said that the situation continues to be monitored but no one has yet come forward to confirm that a person is missing.

Gordon’s Bay – Jetty swept away:

At 06h50 on Wednesday morning NSRI Gordon’s Bay launched both NSRI rescue craft to assist to recover a jetty swept away by big swells during the early morning Spring High Tide.

Mark Burton, NSRI Gordon’s Bay station commander, said that the jetty was recovered and will be repaired.

At 08h07 NSRI Gordon’s Bay were activated following reports of a 17 foot ski-boat capsized off-shore of Rooi Els with 4 males on-board.

Meriel Bartlett, NSRI Marketing Director, happened to be at sea in the area at the time aboard a private craft and had come across the capsized craft finding one of the survivors still sitting on the stern of the upturned hull and Meriel confirmed, to the NSRI Gordon’s Bay volunteers, that the other 3 males had been picked up by one of a further three private craft that had come to the assistance of the capsizing.

Meriel then confirmed that the 4th survivor was also picked up by one of the private boats and that all 4 survivors were safe and not injured.

Mark Burton, NSRI Gordon’s Bay Station Commander said that NSRI Gordon’s Bay volunteers launched Sanlam Rescuer  and on arrival on-scene a tow-line was rigged to the capsized boat which was towed, in the capsize position, to Gordon’s Bay harbour by the NSRI and recovered.

Saturday the 13th of December was a busy one for the Western Cape NSRI:

At approximately 08h30 NSRI Gordons Bay responded aboard their rescue craft Sanlam Rescuer following reports of a 17 foot ski-boat capsized in the surfline at Rooi Els with 4 local men on-board.

Police and the Metro Ambulance and Rescue Services were also dispatched.

On arrival on-scene it was determined that 3 men had been picked up out of the water by a passing boat and 1 man had been assisted to shore by an unidentified diver who was diving in the area at the time of the incident.

NSRI Gordons Bay Deputy Station Commander, Stuart Burgess, said that all 4 men were not injured and were brought ashore safely and their boat has been recovered.

At approximately 11h00 NSRI Strandfontein were activated to Monwabisi Beach following reports of 3 men, taking part in an ESA surf fishing competition, swept out to sea by rip-currents.

EMT (Emergency Medical Training) paramedics responded and NSRI Strandfontein launched their rescue craft I&J Rescuer.

NSRI Strandfontein Station Commander, Nawahlodien Panday, said that on arrival on-scene all 3 men were found safe on the beach after they had been rescued from the surf by duty lifeguards and following a medical assessment by EMT paramedics they were released on-scene in satisfactory conditions requiring no further medical treatment.

At approximately 14h00 the Metro Ambulance and Rescue Services responded to the Wolfgat Nature Reserve near to Strandfontein following reports of a drowning accident involving a male reported to be on the beach.

On arrival on-scene a male was rescued by Metro rescue paramedics from shallow water and resuscitated on-scene and transported to hospital in a serious but stable condition.

At 20h00 NSRI Gordons Bay were activated to respond to Strand Beach following reports of a male suspected to be missing in the surf.

A police dive unit and Metro Ambulance and Rescue Services were dispatched and NSRI Gordon’s Bay launched their rescue craft Douglas Murray.

NSRI Gordon’s Bay Station Commander, Mark Burton, said that it appears that the man, a 27 year old Somerset West resident, may have been missing in the surf since 18h00 and a search during the night revealed no sign of the missing man.

On Sunday morning, 14 Decemebr 2008, NSRI rescue craft and a Police Dive Unit rescue craft continued the search but no sign of the man has been found. He is missing and is presumed to have drowned.

Police have taken over the on-going search and NSRI Gordon’s Bay remain on alert to assist where necessary.

Mark Burton, NSRI Gordon’s Bay Station Commander said: “Fires raging along the slopes of Gordon’s Bay resulted in NSRI Gordon’s Bay volunteers stepping in to assist the Fire and Rescue Services and the Emergency Services to evacuate homes and to assist Emergency Medical Services in providing medical care to residents and Firemen suffering smoke inhalation and smoke and fire related symptoms and injuries.

“The NSRI rescue base in Gordon’s Bay has been opened as a refreshment centre for Emergency workers and as one of the medical posts to assist the Emergency Medical Services dealing with a number of Fire related injuries and illnesses.

“Netcare 911 Ambulance Services paramedics are assisting NSRI volunteers at the NSRI rescue base to deal with medical emergencies and medical related treatments as necessary.

“An NSRI volunteer has been posted to the JOCC (Joint Operations Control Centre) to provide instructions to NSRI volunteers via Radio Communications directly from the Joint Operations Commander of the Fire and Rescue Services in order that the NSRI volunteers can be deployed to assist with any requirements to assist and where necessary alleviate emergency crews dealing with this fire emergency.