On 21 November 2009, Darren Zimmerman, NSRI Simonstown station commander said: “At 07h30 NSRI Simonstown were requested to launch our rescue craft by the SA Police Services to search along the shoreline for a missing 74 year old Church Minister, from Kwa-Zulu Natal, who had been reported missing yesterday late afternoon after failing to return from an afternoon walk along the coast.
“Mr. Simon Gasa, on a church group prayer weekend in Simonstown, was reported to be a known diabetic and fears were that he had succumbed to hypoglycaemia while walking.
“A search by police, well into the night last night, had revealed no sign of Mr. Gasa.
“At 07h30 NSRI Simonstown volunteers launched our rescue craft Spirit of Safmarine III and a search along the coastline commenced while the Metro Ambulance and Rescue Services, WSAR (Wilderness Search and Rescue), CMR (Cape Medical Response), a Police helicopter and a Police Dog Unit joined a Police team already searching today.
“The Police Dog Unit specialized search and rescue German Shephard, Luke, was given a handkerchief belonging to Mr. Gasa to scent and Luke, with his police dog handler Constable Olifant, immediately launched on a search, from where Mr. Gasa was known to have begun his walk, and Luke’s search led rescuers along a hiking trail leading up the mountains above Simonstown.
“At approximately 10h00 Luke found Mr. Gasa on the hiking trail above Simonstown.
“Mr. Gasa was found to be confused and disorientated suffering from dehydration and exhaustion.
“It appears that Mr. Gasa had been wondering around on the mountain after getting lost while walking and he has been transported to hospital by a Metro ambulance in a stable condition.”
Child airlifted to hospital following near drowning
Darren Zimmerman, NSRI Simonstown station commander said: “At 11h50 NSRI Simonstown responded to Seaforth Beach following reports of a near drowning accident.
“NSRI Simonstown’s volunteer duty crew, CMR (Cape Medical Response), the Metro Ambulance and Rescue Services and the Metro Red Cross AMS helicopter responded.
“On arrival on-scene a 6 year old female was found unconscious on the beach and she was treated by paramedics for unconsciousness and obvious signs of near drowning symptoms and airlifted to hospital in a serious but stable condition.
“It appears that the child had suffered a near drowning accident while swimming.
“According to reports unidentified members of the public assisted the child out of the water after finding her lying face down in the water.”
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