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.

08/09/2025

🚨 On 10 September, the NSRI joins the world in marking the first Global Search and Rescue Day.

For over 40 years, the Cospas-Sarsat satellite system has been a lifesaver, detecting emergency beacons and helping rescue teams save more than 60,000 lives.

From capsized yachts off Cape Infanta to dramatic rescues on the Wild Coast, these stories remind us what this day is all about: people, courage and lives saved at sea. 🌊💙

08/09/2025

Eyewitness reports confirmed that a ski-boat, with 4 crew onboard, a dad (believed to be age 50), his two teenage daughters (ages 17 and 15) (from Robertson, Western Cape), and a male friend (believed to be age in his 20’s), had capsized in the vicinity of the sand bar in the Breede River Mouth while appearing to be exiting the river mouth.
https://www.nsri.org.za/2025/09/father-dies-after-boat-capsizes-at-breede-river-mouth-witsand/

10/08/2025

Happy Women’s Day from NSRI Station 33, Witsand 🌸

Yesterday, we celebrated the strength, courage, and compassion of women everywhere — today we take a moment to shine a special light on the incredible women in our own crew.

Our female volunteers are proof that bravery has no gender.
They face the same roaring seas, icy waters, and unpredictable challenges as anyone else — and they do it with unwavering dedication, skill, and grace.

Whether it’s launching the rescue boat at midnight, training hard on cold winter mornings, or offering comfort to someone in distress, these women remind us daily that heroism comes in many forms.

To every woman — whether you’re a mother, sister, daughter, leader, colleague, or friend — we thank you for the role you play in shaping a better, kinder, and braver world.

💛 From all of us at NSRI Station 33 — Happy Women’s Day!

01/08/2025

📸 Enter to Win! Show Us the NSRI in Action 🛟
Have a powerful photo of NSRI volunteers doing what they do best? Send it in and stand a chance to win a R250 NSRI Shop voucher! Whether it's a rescue, training, survival swimming lessons, a Pink Buoy is a beautiful setting or behind-the-scenes moment — we want to see it.

✅ Email your photo (min. 2MB) to news@searescue.org.za
✅ Subject line: ""Monthly photo""
✅ Deadline: 25th of each month 🌟 Congrats to April’s winner, Simoné Grové, for capturing Station 31’s full PPE swim training session — safety in action!

*T&Cs apply – see below for full details.

Send us your favourite photograph of NSRI people doing what we do, and you could win an NSRI shop voucher worth R250!

29/07/2025

🚨🌊 Cold Water, Warm Camaraderie! 🧊👨‍🚒
On Sunday, 27 July, our Station 33 crew decided it was the perfect day to turn up the chill factor! ❄️💪

Our seasoned crew welcomed the fresh faces of our newest recruits with an unforgettable ice-cold induction — a swim session that tested not only their stamina but also their team spirit!

With the icy Breede River as their classroom, our longest-serving trainee demonstrated essential survival techniques:
✅ The HELP position
✅ The Huddle
✅ The Buddy System

But that’s not all… While shivering in sync, the team had to tie every qualifying knot — together — before they were allowed out of the water! 🪢🧤

It wasn’t just about knots and cold toes. It was about trust, teamwork, and training hard so we can be ready when the real call comes. 💛💥

Well done to all involved — your dedication (and chattering teeth) do us proud!

20/09/2024

08/08/2024

Meet the new CEO of NSRI

The NSRI has the pleasure of announcing that Mike Vonk, with years of experience as an NSRI volunteer and Chief Executive Officer of the George Regional…

08/08/2024

After over a decade of dedicated service, Dr. Cleeve Robertson, esteemed CEO of the NSRI, is retiring. Under his visionary leadership, the NSRI has expanded, ensuring countless lives were saved through remarkable rescues and preventive measures. From hands-on rescues like the Miroshga capsize in 2012 to enhancing water safety education, Dr. Robertson’s legacy is one of innovation, compassion, and unwavering commitment.

Thank you, Dr. Robertson, for your extraordinary contributions. 🌊🚤❤️

For more info, click the link below:
https://www.nsri.org.za/2024/06/an-unforgettable-journey-dr-cleeve-robertson-retires-from-the-nsri/

05/07/2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NSRI – NATIONAL.

NSRI – NATIONAL – Friday, 5 July. NSRI NATIONAL SAFETY ALERT:


SAFETY ALERT – NEW MOON SPRING TIDE:

NSRI and the emergency services are appealing to bathers, boaters, paddlers, sailors, shoreline anglers and coastal hikers to be cautious around the coastline as the new moon Spring tide peaks today ( peaking on Saturday during early morning) - bringing the daily 2 high tides to be higher than normal and the daily 2 low tides to be lower than normal and this effect will last into the new week.

The concern is that during this, the final weekend of schools holidays, the coastline will be experiencing the new moon Spring tide during a time where sea conditions are naturally rougher than normal because of winter storms and cold fronts passing over parts of the coastline and deep sea off the South African coastline and where rip currents may be stronger than normal around the coastline.

This new moon Spring tide peaks on Saturday 6 July - just after midnight.

The effect that Spring tide has on the coast – causing the 2 daily high tides to be higher than normal and the 2 daily low tides to be lower than normal, – will be strongest today and over the remainder of this weekend and then gradually declining in intensity towards the middle and towards the end of next week.

Spring tides pose a potential hazard to bathers around the coastline - at all times but noticeably especially during the outgoing tide.

We are urgently appealing to coastal water uses to be cautious during this new moon Spring tide phase and the affect Spring tide has around the coast over this weekend.

Be aware of coastal hiking trails that can be cut off during high tide.

Anglers fishing along the shoreline are urged to keep a safe distance away from the shoreline.

Be aware of adverse weather, strong winds, fast flowing rivers and sea currents and drifts.

Boaters, paddlers and sailors, we are appealing to you to wear life-jackets when your craft are underway, carry safety equipment and download and use the free NSRI SafeTrx smartphone app.
Rough seas, brought on by winter storms and cold fronts, may contribute to hazardous conditions around the coastline during this Spring tide phase.

Cold fronts causing heavy rain and rough sea conditions are forecast by SAWS (South African Weather Services) during this weekend and into the new week / We are appealing to the public to follow the SA Weather Service (SAWS) daily forecasts and around the coastline be aware of the daily tide time tables.

Inland water users are also urged to be cautious bathing, boating and paddling on rivers, lakes and dams where heavy rainfall is forecast for places.

Do not drive through flooded roadways or cross bridges affected by flooding rivers.

We appeal to parents to ensure your children have responsible adult supervision in and around water.

To everyone, we are appealing to you to be safety cautious during the remainder of the school vacation - Lets keep each other safe.


-ENDS-

02/07/2024

⚠️

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - A Level 2 weather...

24/06/2024

During our weekly training session, we participated in the Winter Solstice Swim.

Both our sea and shore crew braved the icy cold water in a team-building effort to participate in the Winter Solstice Swim. 🌊

A big shout out to Anchorage Restaurant Witsand for sponsoring us with warm coffee, although we were too pumped up to remember to claim it.

20/06/2024

The NSRI invites you to brave the cold and take a splash for a cause by participating in a winter solstice plunge to raise essential funds.

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) invites you to brave the cold and take a splash for a cause by participating in a winter solstice plunge to raise…