NSRI

03/10/2025

We’re excited to announce the winners of a 65" Smart TV and Fieldbar Hamper in the NSRI SA vs NZ Rugby Giveaway. Congratulations to you both.☺️ A big thank you to everyone else for being part of our competition and for helping us change the score on drowning!

02/10/2025

September’s Photo of the Month, by Geoffrey Garrett Jr., captures the dedication of our rescue teams in action. Every image tells a story of teamwork. 📸 Got a great photo of NSRI people in action? Send it to news@searescue.org.za with Monthly Photo in the subject line, and you could win a R250 NSRI shop voucher. Photos should be over 2MB.

29/09/2025

NSRI Rescue Report | A Week of Life-saving Missions: Every week, our volunteer rescue crews respond to emergencies across the country, from coastlines to inland waters. This is a look at some of the rescues, images, and moments that demonstrate their courage, skill, and dedication to saving lives from the past week.

29/09/2025

NSRI lifeguards, who happened to be at Victoria Bay at the time, conducting pre-Summer season lifeguard training, had been alerted by eye-witnesses reporting a lady appearing to be in distress in shallow surf near to the shoreline.
https://www.nsri.org.za/2025/09/tragic-drowning-at-victoria-bay-condolences-to-family-and-friends/

28/09/2025

Police divers (WPDS - Water Policing and Diving Services) are continuing in ongoing search efforts for a local teenager missing at Bakoven.
https://www.nsri.org.za/2025/09/teenager-missing-at-bakoven-police-divers-continue-search/

27/09/2025

At 15h25, Friday, 26 September, NSRI St Helena Bay duty crew were activated following reports from WC Government Health EMS West Coast Metro Control of a drowning in progress on the Berg River, near to the Berg River Mouth, at Rooibaai, Laaiplek, Veldrift, on the West Coast.
https://www.nsri.org.za/2025/09/teenager-tragically-drowns-in-berg-river-veldrift/

25/09/2025

Recently, our volunteers took on one of the most demanding courses on the NSRI calendar, the Swift Water Training weekend at the Breede River.

Led by Training Officer Dean Wegerle and supported by our training team, crews faced strong currents, unpredictable conditions and even a nighttime rescue exercise. The goal was simple but vital: to build the knowledge, skill and respect needed to work safely in powerful river environments.

Volunteers described the weekend as physically tough but deeply rewarding. They returned home stronger, more confident and united by the camaraderie that defines Sea Rescue. 💙

23/09/2025

.🌊 55 years of service 🌊

In 1966, a young teenager stood on the shoreline, watching the SA Seafarer disaster unfold. That moment changed his life. It sparked a calling that would see Howard Godfrey dedicate more than half a century to saving lives at sea.

From crew member to station commander, mentor, and now Honorary Life Governor, Howard’s journey is proof that volunteering is more than duty; it becomes family.

Today, we celebrate 55 years of service, courage, and heart from this remarkable man. Thank you, Howard.

23/09/2025

NSRI Port Edward duty crew were activated following reports from uShaka Marine World of 2 green turtles needing to be recovered at the Umzimkulu River.
https://www.nsri.org.za/2025/09/two-green-turtles-rescued-at-umzimkulu-river/

23/09/2025

NSRI Durban duty crew were activated following reports from TNPA (Transnet National ports Authority) Port of Durban Port Control of a ski-boat capsized offshore of Maydon Wharf with casualty crew reported to be in the water.
https://www.nsri.org.za/2025/09/nsri-durban-5-rescued-by-good-samaritans-after-their-boat-capsizes/

23/09/2025

NSRI Gqeberha duty crew were alerted to prepare for a medical evacuation operation from a motor vessel container ship of a 55 year old Indian male seafarer suffering a medical condition.
https://www.nsri.org.za/2025/09/nsri-gqeberha-2-medical-evacuation-operations-off-ships-at-sea/

22/09/2025

NSRI Rescue Report | A Week of Life-saving Missions: Every week, our volunteer rescue crews respond to emergencies across the country, from coastlines to inland waters. This is a look at some of the rescues, images, and moments that demonstrate their courage, skill, and dedication to saving lives from the past week.

18/09/2025

NSRI | Station 14 Training Update

With the season fast approaching, our training is shifting focus towards the common rescues we’re most likely to face during the the season.

Yesterday’s session put our team to the test as we worked on immobilising a patient with a suspected spinal injury in the water. To make things more realistic and challenging, we took the training into the surf zone, where the added factor of yesterday's big swells pushed our skills and teamwork even further.

06/09/2025

Station 14 Training Update:

This week our crew focused on an important skill set which we are often faced with in Plett, getting on and off the rocks from the water safely during rescue operations.
Working in rocky areas is always challenging due to swells, slippery surfaces, and strong currents. By training in these conditions, our team builds confidence and learns how to minimise risk while keeping both ourselves and those we rescue safe.

Safety is always at the heart of what we do, and we encourage everyone who enjoys the ocean to keep these tips in mind.

5 Tips if you fall into the water from rocks:
Stay calm, panicking wastes energy and makes it harder to stay afloat.
Keep your head above water and take deep, controlled breaths.
Don’t try to climb straight back onto slippery rocks, rather move away from where waves are breaking.
Look for calmer water and a ledge or swim parallel to the shore until you find a safer exit point.
If you can’t get out safely, wave one arm and call for help to attract attention.

Remember, prevention is always better than cure. Be cautious around rocky shorelines, never turn your back on the ocean, and always let someone know where you are going.

Stay safe,
NSRI Station 14

31/07/2025

We need 4 office chairs!

NSRI Station 14 is looking for 4 office chairs for our crew working behind the scenes. If you can donate chairs or help us get them, we’d really appreciate it!

Message us here if you’re able to assist.
Thanks for your support! 💙

17/07/2025

Training Exercise at Station 14.

Last night, the NSRI Station 14 crew conducted a simulated rescue exercise involving a yacht with two casualties onboard. The scenario involved one patient with a suspected broken femur and another with a potential lower spinal injury.

These realistic drills are critical for keeping our team sharp and prepared for real-life emergencies along our waters. We’re proud of the professionalism, teamwork, and commitment shown by all involved.

Well done to the crew for another successful training night.

10/07/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CJNpDs8AZ/?mibextid=wwXIfr

When the air raid siren sounds over Plettenberg Bay, Station 14 springs into action — and within 13 minutes, they’re on scene. A recent rescue of five people from a sinking boat proves just how vital that speed is. With precision teamwork, rapid gear-up, and a WWII-era siren still leading the charge, this is Sea Rescue at its most prepared. 🚨🌊

See more: https://www.nsri.org.za/2025/06/every-second-counts-how-the-plett-nsri-crew-reaches-a-rescue-in-just-13-minutes/

20/05/2025

Sadly, a juvenile Humpback whale, beached at Robberg Nature Reserve, has unavoidably been humanely euthanised by marine authorities, assisted by Police,…

05/05/2025

PLETTENBERG BAY:

A teenager injured on a hiking trail brought to safety.

Jaco Kruger, NSRI Plettenberg Bay station commander, said:

On Thursday, 1 May, at 11h56, NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew were activated following reports of a teenager injured on a hiking trail on the Salt River, Natures Valley.

Accompanied by his dad and mom, they are from Durbanville, the mom had hiked to a cell reception area to raise the alarm after her child was injured in a fall while hiking.

Our NSRI crew responded to our NSRI Plettenberg Bay station 14 rescue base where the NSRI rescue craft Eric Stratford and Courtenay Rescuer were launched.

Med-Life ambulance services were activated to stand by at our NSRI rescue base.

On arrival in the area, assisted by our Natures Valley community coast watchers, we negotiated entering the river mouth where upstream of the Salt River, at the first bend in the river, we found the family on the river banks.

They were in the care of our Natures valley community coast watchers.

An NSRI doctor and our NSRI medics stabilised the teenager who was taken onboard our rescue craft, accompanied by his mom, and they were brought to our NSRI rescue base.

The dad arrived a bit later by car and the parents took their son to hospital.

The teenager is expected to make a full recovery.

01/05/2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NSRI – STATION 14, Plettenberg Bay

NSRI – Plettenberg Bay – Thursday, 1 May. incidents at Robberg Nature Reserve:


A 45 year old female, from Gauteng, rescued at Robberg Nature Reserve on Monday, remains in a serious but stable condition in hospital.

Jaco Kruger, NSRI Plettenberg Bay station commander, said:

At 13h08, Monday, 28 April, NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew were activated following reports of a female collapsed unconscious - on the Wild Side, Robberg Nature Reserve, near to the Fountain Shack, on the East side.

Good Samaritan hikers, including a doctor, were assisting the lady at the scene and requested urgent medical assistance reporting her medical condition to be deteriorating from unknown causes.

Cape Nature rangers were heading towards them while NSRI Plettenberg Bay launched NSRI rescue craft and responded.

ER24 ambulance services and Med-Life ambulance services were activated.

On arrival on the scene, the female, age 45, from Douglasdale, Johannesburg, in a critical condition, was secured onto a stretcher and hiked to the NSRI rescue craft with medical care continuing.

Additional NSRI rescue craft, dispatching more NSRI rescue crew to the scene to assist, were launched.

Bystander Good Samaritan hikers assisted NSRI rescue crew to get the lady to our NSRI rescue craft and they are commended for the help they rendered.

Accompanied by her partner, in a critical medical condition, in the care of NSRI medics, the patient was brought to our NSRI Plettenberg Bay station 14 rescue base and transported to hospital by ER24 ambulance in the care of ER24 paramedics.

It remains unknown the causes for the lady collapsing unconscious and causes of her severe medical condition appears to be unknown. Doctors and nurses are continuing with life saving efforts in hospital.

Thoughts and care remain with her partner, that was hiking with her at the time, and her family, in this difficult time.

On Monday, while this emergency medical operation was in progress, NSRI Plettenberg Bay and Cape Nature rangers were alerted to a lady injured nearby (to the initial incident), at The Gap, Robberg Nature Reserve.

With the serious rescue operation that was already in progress at the Fountain Shack, Cape Nature Rangers took that patient, that was at The Gap, into their care and they hiked her safely to the Robberg car park without incident. In a stable condition that patient attended further medical care privately.

As the NSRI rescue craft was departing The Wild Side, after the critical condition female patient had been secured onto the NSRI rescue craft, at the Robberg Nature Reserve hiking trail, NSRI were approached by a couple reporting that they were suffering dehydration and also in need of medical care.

NSRI left them on the scene with additional hydration supplies, and with our NSRI rescue craft JetRIB and with NSRI rescue crew - caring for them, and the NSRI rescue craft then returned to fetch them later (after delivering the critical patient to paramedics at our rescue base).

The adult couple, believed to be from the Middle East, were taken onboard our NSRI rescue craft and they were brought to our NSRI rescue station where both of them, by that stage hydrated and both in good spirits, were released requiring no further assistance.



-ENDS-

About the NSRI:
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is a registered non-profit organisation that is committed to drowning prevention and focused on saving lives, changing lives and creating futures for those threatened by drowning in South Africa.
We are unique in South Africa as the only non-profit organisation focusing exclusively on safeguarding lives and livelihoods in South African waters through education, prevention, and rescue operations. We envision a nation where drowning incidents are minimised, ensuring the safety of all.
The NSRI strives to innovate, constantly evolve, and extend our water safety initiatives through empowerment and visibility. Our volunteers are on call 24/7 and are reliant on donations and sponsorships.

Please visit www.nsri.org.za for more information.
NSRI EMERGENCY: 087 094 9774

RELEASED BY


Craig Lambinon
NSRI COMMUNICATIONS

Email: communications@searescue.org.za | Cell: +27 (0) 82 380 3800 | nsri.org.za

30/04/2025

PLETTENBERG BAY:

Ross Badenhorst, NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty coxswain, said:

At just after 19h00, Sunday, 27 April, NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew were activated by the NSRI Plettenberg Bay siren following reports of a private small craft ski-boat, with 4 adults and a 12 year old onboard, taking on water and sinking in the Keurbooms River Mouth, Plettenberg Bay, at last light and now in the dark.

The wife of one of the casualty crew had been contacted by her husband onboard and she had raised alarm contacting NSRI Plettenberg Bay's emergency phone.

NSRI crew responded to our NSRI Plettenberg Bay station 14 rescue base while NSRI rescue swimmers responded directly to the scene.

While responding it was reported that the casualty craft was being swept out to sea in an outgoing tide through the Keurbooms River Mouth, listing and sinking. 3 casualty crew were reported to may be unable to swim but all were secured into life-jackets.

Our NSRI rescue craft JetRIB Eric Stratford and Ray Farnham Rescuer were launched.

On arrival on the scene the casualty vessel was listing to the Port side appearing to be taking on water fast, submerged and at risk of capsizing.

NSRI deployed illuminating flares to aid in visibility in the dark to light up the vicinity assisting in the rescue operation.

Casualty crew were taken off the casualty vessel and quickly organised (and transferred) between the 2 NSRI rescue craft on the scene.

2 adult casualty crew, we believe the grandparents, and the 12 year old male, were immediately brought to the NSRI rescue base onboard an NSRI rescue craft and taken into the care of our NSRI station doctor and NSRI medics - they were medically assessed and treated for hypothermia (water temperature is around 12 degrees).

The remaining 2 adult males were safe onboard the second NSRI rescue craft.

A towline was established with the casualty craft.

The casualty craft was towed under challenging conditions, heavily laden with water, to Central Beach, where an NSRI rescue craft transported a recovery rope from our NSRI tractor to the casualty craft and the casualty craft was recovered to the shore and recovered onto her trailer.

The two remaining casualties were brought safely ashore onboard the rescue craft and they were medically assessed and treated for hypothermia.

It appears that they had experienced motor mechanical failure in the lagoon mouth where they reportedly threw anchor but with the anchor appearing not to take a hold their craft was swept out through the mouth into the surf zone while taking on water and listing.

Family arrived at our NSRI rescue base and after all 5 casualties were warmed up they required no further assistance. They are a family on a holiday from Wellington in the Cape.

It is suspected that the casualty craft took on water in the surf zone while being swept out the river mouth.

The swift response has been commended for contributing to saving the lives of all 5 casualty crew.



-ENDS-


NSRI EMERGENCY: 087 094 9774

RELEASED BY


Craig Lambinon
NSRI COMMUNICATIONS

Email: communications@searescue.org.za | Cell: +27 (0) 82 380 3800 | nsri.org.za

21/03/2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NSRI – STATION 14, Plettenberg Bay.

NSRI – Plettenberg Bay – Wednesday, 19 March. A body of an unidentified man recovered:


A body of an unidentified man, sadly deceased, was recovered from the surf zone. It remains unclear the circumstances and Police are investigating. An inquest docket has been opened by Police.

Jaco Kruger, NSRI Plettenberg Bay station commander, said:

At 13h33, Tuesday, 18 March, NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew were activated following reports of lifeguards on the scene at a body in the water at Lookout Rocks, in the vicinity of Whale Tail, Plettenberg Bay.

Fishermen angling from the shoreline had reached Bitou shark spotters nearby reporting witnessing a man floating face down in the water.

It appears that the man had been witnessed going into the water from the rocks from undetermined circumstances.

Shark spotters alerted Bitou Municipal lifeguards.
Lifeguards and Bitou Beach Control responded and on arriving on the scene requested the assistance of NSRI Plettenberg Bay.

NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew responded to the NSRI Plettenberg Bay station 14 rescue base where the NSRI rescue craft Ray Farnham Rescuer was launched.

The SA Police Services and WC Government Health EMS were activated and responded.

On arrival on the scene NSRI found Bitou lifeguards in attendance in the surf zone. They had secured the body of the man that was then recovered from the water onto the NSRI rescue craft. Sadly the man was found to be deceased.

The body of the man was brought to the NSRI rescue base where EMS paramedics attended and the body of the man was taken into the care of Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.

Anyone that can help to assist Police with the identity of the man and the circumstances surrounding this incident can call Plettenberg Bay Police Station 044 5011900.

The local anglers that swiftly raised the alarm with Bitou Municipal shark spotters and the swift response and cooperation of all involved is commended.

-ENDS-

About the NSRI:
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is a registered non-profit organisation that is committed to drowning prevention and focused on saving lives, changing lives and creating futures for those threatened by drowning in South Africa.
We are unique in South Africa as the only non-profit organisation focusing exclusively on safeguarding lives and livelihoods in South African waters through education, prevention, and rescue operations. We envision a nation where drowning incidents are minimised, ensuring the safety of all.
The NSRI strives to innovate, constantly evolve, and extend our water safety initiatives through empowerment and visibility. Our volunteers are on call 24/7 and are reliant on donations and sponsorships.

Please visit www.nsri.org.za for more information.
NSRI EMERGENCY: 087 094 9774

RELEASED BY


Craig Lambinon
NSRI COMMUNICATIONS

Email: communications@searescue.org.za | Cell: +27 (0) 82 380 3800 | nsri.org.za

National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is a volunteer organisation that saves lives on South African waters through rescue services and water-safety…

07/02/2025

Returning home yesterday evening from a successful rescue in Natures Valley
Thank you Connor Jerling for the footage

07/02/2025

PLETTENBERG BAY:

Jaco Kruger, NSRI Plettenberg Bay station commander, said:

At 18h29, Thursday, 6 February, NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew were activated following eyewitness reports of a drowning in progress at Natures Valley Main Beach, Beach 3.

The Natures Valley Coast Watchers group responded while NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew responded to the NSRI station 14 rescue base where the NSRI rescue craft Courtnenays Rescuer and Ray Farnham Rescuer were launched.

ER24 ambulance services responded.

The Natures Valley Coast Watchers had spotted a female in the surf beyond the breakers and they kept a vigil marking the location by forming a line from the top of a sand dune down towards the beach to make it easier for our NSRI rescue craft to spot the female.

It appears that a group of Russian tourists, on a holiday in the area, had been at the beach with a tour guide, and 2 ladies, Russians in the tour group, were swimming when one got caught in rip currents. The second lady was able to get out of the water safely.

On arrival in the area NSRI crew onboard Courtenay's Rescuer reached the lady about 200 meters beyond the back breakers.

She was rescued onto the NSRI rescue craft and brought to the beach where an NSRI doctor, medically assessed her and she required no further assistance.

NSRI commend the Natures Valley coast watchers for their assistance.