NSRI Sea Rescue Magazine Summer 2021

SEA RESCUE SUMMER 2021 | NSRI MEMBERS’ MAGAZINE

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CONTENTS

S U M M ER 20 21

32 16

2 LETTERS

24

6 COVER COMPETITION ENTRIES See our volunteers in action.

10 A LUCKY ESCAPE An early morning surf turns into a race against time to save a life.

28 ‘CPR SAVED MY LIFE’ The story of how one little girl’s life was saved and how she learnt

COVER PHOTOGRAPH: SIMON MCDONNELL

16 UPGRADE FOR HERMANUS Station 17’s facelift means the station is ready for the arrival of its ORC at year-end.

20 PRIMED FOR THE SEASON More about how the Lifeguard Unit prepped for the season and where you can find them.

24 ‘PLEASE USE SAFETRX’ After a devastating loss, a paddler’s family urges all water users to download this lifesaving app before venturing out.

42 42 NOW YOU SEE ME...

We take a deep dive to the ocean floor to find out more about the enigmatic coelacanth.

the skills to save others now.

30 KIDS’ CLUB More about survival swimming.

32 IN THE NEWS Awards, water-safety initiatives, fundraising drives, events, and station and sponsor news.

40 EXPANDING OUR FOOTPRINT NSRI is reopening Station 28 (Port St Johns) on the Wild Coast and will have two lifeguard stations operational at Kei Mouth and Mdumbi.

45 FISH TALES Learn more about the ocean with a few fun activities.

46 NSRI BASE LOCATIONS

SAVING LIVES. CHANGING LIVES. CREATING FUTURES. SEA RESCUE SUMMER 2021

| 1

FROM THE HELM T

HE SOUTHEASTERLY wind outside my new

join us after many years of operating from leased premises in Milnerton Mall. Bringing everyone

office in Milnerton tells me the equinox has passed, the 10˚C water in the tidal pool is confirmation, and the blooming trees and hay fever are sure signs that summer is here.

Hopefully the miserable winter of the Covid-19 pandemic is over and we can get on with our lives again. Fingers and toes crossed!

Over one recent weekend we saved 20 lives in a number of incidents along the coast and inland: a yacht running into a pipe at Langebaan, seals biting spearfishermen, fishermen slipping on dolosse, cars driving into dams… All ops normal in the NSRI – it just doesn’t stop. We often think winter is a quiet time, but incidents occur all year round.

What has changed with Covid-19 is there seems to be a far more energetic drive to get outdoors – we’re going to have our work cut out for us!

Our new vessels are emerging from their moulds and will be delivered by the summer season. Unfortunately the blockages in the global supply chain have slowed down our ORC programme deliveries, and Hermanus may have to

home to a single facility will create the opportunity for greater innovation, communication and service to the operational rescue volunteers. The move will also introduce new technology and digital solutions to a previously manual system.

Drowning-prevention initiatives, water safety education, survival swimming and water safety advocacy have continued through the year, and Jill Fortuin has brought new skills to the efforts to address research into drowning, the findings of which will inform our strategy. We are a lead agency in drowning prevention in South Africa: we spend more than R20m on prevention (Pink Rescue Buoys, water safety, survival swimming, advocacy and more), and can be given at least some credit for the fact that the fatal drowning rate has decreased to a rate of 2.6 per 100 000.

Every save is not only a life saved, but many livelihoods are preserved – a very important economic issue for every family protected from the impact of a family member, a breadwinner, dying.

I can never say enough about our donor, staff

wait a while longer as we wait for gearbox parts.

The volunteer community trained continuously through winter and our lifeguard units are prepared.

You get the sense of passionate anticipation of the season to come. They love it – it’s what they do!

The head-office personnel have moved into a new volunteer support centre in Milnerton that will eventually accommodate management, training, supply chain, fundraising, marketing and, in January 2022, the call-centre members, who will

and volunteer culture and the energy that drives the NSRI. You rock and, as you can hear, you have a real impact on people’s lives and livelihoods.

I’m looking forward to a safe summer filled with adventures. See you on the water. Enjoy!

DR CLEEVE ROBERTSON, CEO

CAPE TOWN: NSRI, 4 Longclaw Drive, Milnerton, Cape Town, 7441; PO Box 154, Green Point 8051 Tel: +27 21 434 4011 Fax: +27 21 434 1661 Email: info@searescue.org.za Web: www.nsri.org.za www.facebook.com/SeaRescue

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SEA RESCUE SUMMER 2021

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THE CREW THE PUBLISHING PARTNERSHIP MANAGING EDITOR Wendy Maritz ART DIRECTOR Ryan Manning ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Bernice Blundell EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Mark Beare PRODUCTION DIRECTOR John Morkel MANAGING DIRECTOR Susan Newham-Blake ADDRESS PO Box 15054, Vlaeberg 8018 TEL +27 21 ­424 3517 FAX +27 21 424 3612 EMAIL wmaritz@tppsa.co.za SEA RESCUE OFFICE +27 21 434 4011 WEB www.nsri.org.za FUNDRAISING AND MARKETING DIRECTOR Janine van Stolk EMAIL janine@searescue.org.za MARKETING MANAGER Bradley Seaton Smith bradley@searescue.org.za COMMUNICATIONS & PR MANAGER KUHLE MKIZE EMAIL kuhle@searescue.org.za PRODUCED FOR THE NSRI BY The Publishing Partnership (Pty) Ltd, PO Box 15054, Vlaeberg 8018.

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SEA RESCUE SPRING 2021

WINNING LETTER

Thank you, Hedley, for sending us your story. Your prize is on its way.

As a youngster growing up in Durban, I had a friend at school who had joined Station 5 at Vetch’s Pier. I was a boarder at Glenwood High School, so it wasn’t as easy to get out as it could have been (possibly a good thing too).

I went down to the station on a Sunday morning to see what it was all about. Given that was 1978-ish, I am not able to recall all the names of the team. However, the one ‘taskmaster’ I will never forget was the late Dave Sievwright, who was a coxswain at the time and worked for the navy in Durban. Dave took me under his watch and drilled me in so many aspects not only of Sea Rescue but life as well.

Dave lived not too far from the hostel in Glenwood and I would often go to his home to do training on navigation, radio or engine maintenance among other things. I remember writing tests there as well.

My training at Station 5 back then was also in the sea, with swimming training, rope handling, seamanship, maintenance and of course refuelling, which in those days was done with a manual hand pump (funnily enough, gallon by gallon). As a (junior) trainee, I always cleaned the boat after it had been at sea – thoroughly flushed the deck, the hull, the motors, ensured the safety gear was hung up to dry, and that the gear was ready for the next call-out. Also, once the boat had been launched, the boat house had to be cleaned and swept out (the wind would force sand under the door continuously).

Then, of course, the control room had to be spic and span as well or, as was always the term, ‘shipshape’.

I learnt about preparedness, discipline and dedication to tasks.

Clearly, as a junior member, I was never out on a full rescue at the time, yet it was always a highlight to be rewarded with being included in a training session on the boat, the Natal Nomad.

During school holidays and every other opportunity possible, I was at the station. On one occasion during a school holiday I was given a pager to carry (a method of emergency communication long before cellphones). Well, the pager went off one morning and I hopped onto my 50cc Yamaha and sped off to the station, only to be stopped by a traffic officer, who asked what the hurry was. After I explained where I was off to, he escorted me on his 750cc Honda all the way to Station 5. I remember Dave was super-cross with me about it for some reason, but that also blew over.

The real lasting value for me as a youngster from this experience was the fact that, many years later, with my own fishing boats and

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LETTERS on other boats, all my training and experience was never forgotten and always made me proud to have had the experiences thanks to the Sea Rescue training and Dave as well.

Regrettably I have never been in a work location or functional job situation since leaving school that allowed me effectively to volunteer again to be of service to the NSRI as a crew member, despite my desire to do so. I have walked or driven past stations on many occasions and wondered how rewarding it could have been to be able to assist others in need when they most needed it. Alas, circumstances dictate and this is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future.

I make a financial contribution to the NSRI every month (in a small way) towards keeping this boat afloat.

I take my hat off to the men and women who are dedicated to this process and who volunteer their services in sometimes the most dangerous of situations on the seas and inland waters.

Many thanks!

HEDLEY JUDD

COVER COMPETITION Thank you to everyone who submitted photographs for our Cover Competion.

Here are a few of our favourites.

Congratulations to Simon McDonnell, whose entry was chosen for the cover of this issue.

WRITE TO US AND WIN! The writer of the winning letter published in the Winter 2022 issue of Sea Rescue will receive an NSRI hoodie.

Email your letters to info@searescue.org.za or post them to Sea Rescue magazine, PO Box 15054, Vlaeberg 8018. (Letters may be shortened and the winning letter is chosen at the editor’s discretion.)

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SEA RESCUE SPRING 2021

Above: Spirit of Surfski (Simon’s Town) Photographer: Simon McDonnell

Above: Spirit of Round Table 2 (Richards Bay) Photograph: Etienne van Zyl Below: Alick Rennie (Durban) Photographer: Etienne van Zyl Right: Donna Nicholas (Simon’s Town) Photographer: Simon McDonnell

SEA RESCUE SUMMER 2021

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LETTERS Right: Spirit of Surski 2 with the training crew Photographer: Simon McDonnell

Above: Out on a rescue Photographer: Tim Edwards

Above and left: Spirit of Richards Bay Photographer: Etienne van Zyl

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SEA RESCUE SUMMER 2021

A

LUCKY

escape

Jason Lammers is glad to be back in the water after a close encounter with a great white shark at Jeffreys Bay.

By Cherelle Leong

J

EFFREYS BAY, also known as JBay, is famous for its perfect waves, especially during the winter months. Cold fronts usher in long-range, long-period swells that push in from the southwest Arctic Ocean and up the east coast of South Africa. The typography of Jeffreys Bay allows swell to bend into the bay as it refracts off Cape St Francis and various rocky points along the coastline, resulting in some of the most perfect ridable waves on the planet.

When the surf is on, surfers can be seen suiting 10 |

SEA RESCU E SU MME R 2021

up and paddling out from before sunrise, bobbing on their boards at first light, eagerly waiting for the next wave.

Jason Lammers, a Cape Town resident, has been surfing most of his life and was in the middle of his annual pilgrimage to this little surf mecca. The winter of 2021 was a particularly good one for surfing, with no international surf contests due to Covid-19 and plenty of waves to go around. On the morning of 14 July 2021, Jason decided to head out early at about 6.30am,

RESCUE

with a fairly large shark or, as surfers would call it, a ‘sizeable Johnny’. It was an unnerving realisation that made him feel hugely vulnerable. What if the shark came back? He called to his friends that they should paddle for the beach. The three friends huddled their boards side by side as they paddled swiftly to shore, with Jason’s short board in the middle. It was fortunate that it was high tide so they could paddle over the dark jagged volcanic rocks onto the beach. The moments it took them to get to land were filled with anxiety as they positively identified the great white shark that was following them all the way to the rocks.

Safely on shore, Jason looked down and noticed blood streaming from a gaping hole above his knee. He reached back and felt his shredded wetsuit and knew he was going to need at least a few stitches. Spotting his wife, who had been watching the scene unfold from the shore, he ran up to her to assure her that he was okay.

Jason couldn’t see the full extent of his injuries and his wife insisted he lie down so that they could try to stop the bleeding. His dog’s leash was used as a tourniquet. Then, when the adrenalin began to wear off, things started to get fuzzy for Jason.

armed with his green short board, at a surf spot called The Point. Jason was in the water with two other friends who were both on their longboards.

They’d been sitting on the backline for less than two minutes when Jason spotted a wave and started to paddle for it. Midstroke he suddenly felt a massive impact from below and was flung into the water. He felt no pain to indicate he’d been bitten but scrambled back onto his board, immediately noticing the semi-circle gashes on it. There was no doubt he’d just had an encounter

Jason is tended to while EMS is en route.

SEA RESCU E SU MME R 2021

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RESCUE

It was about that time that Station 2 (Bakoven) Sea Rescue

While the momentum of the impact had thrown Jason off his board and presumably prevented the shark from clamping down on him, he hadn’t escaped the bite altogether, as evidenced by the deep puncture wounds and lacerations on his torso.

volunteer Russel Goodman arrived. He’d been on a surf holiday himself for the past week, staying at a nearby house. They had been preparing to drive back to Cape Town when his friend, who had been watching the surfing, rushed back inside to tell Russel there’d been a shark-bite incident. The two of them immediately got in the car and drove down to the parking lot, less than two minutes away.

On seeing Jason lying on his side in the parking lot, Russel’s Sea Rescue training kicked in. Despite Jason’s comments that he wasn’t in pain, there was a lot of blood and stopping the bleeding was Russel’s first priority. He asked bystanders to fetch the Sea Rescue shark-bite kit positioned near the beach access point. They brought the kit and also called NSRI Jeffreys Bay’s emergency number. This was about 7am. Russel cut away parts of Jason’s wetsuit and started packing the wound with gauze.

While the momentum of the impact had thrown Jason off his board and presumably prevented the shark from clamping down on him, he hadn’t escaped the bite altogether, as evidenced by the deep puncture wounds and lacerations on his torso. His knee had presumably been caught up in the jaws as the shark thrashed about resulting in the second bite wound.

In the meantime, Jeffreys Bay station commander Paul van Jaarsveld activated his crew and requested immediate assistance from Emergency Medical Services, who confirmed they were on their way.

Jason didn’t realise the full extent of his injuries at the time.

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SEA RESCUE SUMMER 2021

As Russel worked to pack and strap the wounds, he was intent on keeping Jason calm and conscious. Still not in any great level of pain, Jason at that stage still thought his injuries were minor and didn’t want to make a scene. But the concerned expressions of those around him indicated he’d had a lucky escape. Russel managed to keep Jason distracted with surfing talk and a few jokes, while working to stop the bleeding and wrap the wounds.

At 7.14am, multiple ambulances and paramedics arrived and took over primary care, setting up a drip, checking the wounds and stabilising Jason for transportation to hospital.

Paul arrived shortly afterwards. Not the kind of start to a day he expected after a very quiet season and working a late night, but certainly

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a very memorable first call as recently elected station commander. He remarked afterwards

The call taker, usually a duty coxswain or the station commander or deputy, will then activate

that even though it was a bad situation, several things aligned perfectly that day: Jason’s friends escorting him out of the water; Russel, a trained NSRI crew member, being nearby; and the EMS, located down the road, responding quickly.

While Jeffreys Bay is a popular and world-renowned surf spot, and various species of sharks are often sighted, actual sharkbite incidents are a very rare occurrence. The only fatal shark incident on record in Jeffreys Bay shook the community on 11 October 2013, when beloved local swimmer, diver and ocean lover Burgert van der Westhuizen was killed by a great white shark.

All coastal Sea Rescue stations are now equipped

EMS and coordinate the operation from that point onward. The people on the scene can use the kit to apply immediate first aid. This is one example of Sea Rescue’s proactive approach to saving lives on South African waters. In this particular incident, it saved valuable time by providing Russel with the essential medical resources he needed to initiate proper early treatment before the emergency medical services arrived.

After having surgery to stitch up and repair his wounds, Jason has made a full recovery.

A month later he was already back surfing and recently visited Russel at the Bakoven base in Cape

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SEA RESCUE SUMMER 2021

All coastal Sea Rescue stations are equipped with specialised shark-bite kits, and crew are trained in applying the specific medical resources.

Town to share their experiences of the incident. In retelling the story, Jason shares that while he loves the ocean and has been a surfer for most of his life, he’s always been wary of sharks.

The incident happened so quickly and without warning, in an area he’d surfed in many times before. He was fortunate that the board took the brunt of the bite, and that the momentum from the impact aided his escape from more severe injuries.

He’s very grateful he lives to surf again.

PHOTOGRAPHS: PAUL VAN JAARSVELD, SUPPLIED

with specialised shark-bite kits, and crew are trained in applying the specific medical resources. After the shark incident in 2013, the Supertubes Surfing Foundation had assisted NSRI to position shark-bite kits at Supertubes, Upper Point and Lower Point, which are the most frequented surf spots of Jeffreys Bay. There is also an additional shark-bite kit at the station, which is located directly in front of a surf zone called Kitchen Windows. Station 37 (Jeffreys Bay) keeps its shark-bite kits in wooden boxes with a combination lock (to reduce vandalism and theft) at these spots for fast access in case a shark-bite incident happens. A bystander must simply call the local NSRI emergency number on the box to get the code.

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S TAT I O N N E W S

UPGRADE for Hermanus

In anticipation of the arrival of its ORC, Station 17 (Hermanus) underwent an extensive upgrade. It was not without its challenges, says Cherelle Leong.

A

T THE END of 2021 Station 17 (Hermanus) will take delivery of its new 14.8m deep-sea Offshore Rescue Craft (ORC). It will be the third in NSRI’s fleet and the first that is 100% South African-built.

It’s been a long haul to get to this point – not only in terms of the fundraising and boat build, but also because the Hermanus base had to be 16 |

SEA RESCU E SU MME R 2021

demolished and rebuilt in its entirety. Like many NSRI bases in SA, Hermanus had humble beginnings: it started out as a boat shed before being converted into a more permanent structure. The building was more than 40 years old, and rebuilding the base to accommodate the much larger ORC presented a number of unique challenges.

Left: The new Station 17 (Hermanus) base building.

Above: Aerial views of the construction process.

The Hermanus base is located against a cliff face below the local ski-boat club. Because it is inside a commercial harbour, it wasn’t possible to extend the base towards the water, as this would interfere with public access to the slipway located nearby. The only option was to carve out more of the cliff behind the base. This required extensive engineering and careful planning to ensure that the structural integrity of the ski-boat club above was not impacted during construction. Another challenge was diverting storm water run-off that

navigate a 25-degree S-bend at the top of the slipway to bypass the public maintenance slipway. The standard four-wheel cradle configuration doesn’t allow for turns and had to be modified with double bogeys that could turn, like a train carriage. In addition, an emergency brake was needed because the public also has access to the launching area. Known as ‘the elephant foot’, this is a large wooden block

would typically accumulate during heavy winter rains, as well as seepage water coming from the rock face behind the building. This water literally ran through the old building, and this had to be mitigated. To prevent water damage to the base, the rear of the building now has two double-brick walls with a draining cavity between them, and a deep gully at its base. The cavity is kept ventilated with extractor fans. The gully diverts water run-off around the building. Should any water manage to get through the outer wall, it will be drained via the cavity, and the extractor fans will maintain airflow and prevent moisture build-up over time.

It is standard for NSRI’s ORCs to be housed on a boat cradle. This rests on four metal wheels and launches on rails. At Hermanus the rails had to

under each wheel set, that is hydraulically operated and drops down onto the rail, lifting the wheels up, and stopping the cradle within 1 metre when the emergency brake is activated.

Inside the base, it is spacious, with climatecontrolled locker rooms where crew can change.

While this may seem like a luxury, it’s been designed with crew comfort and wellbeing in mind and is already being put to good use. One night, while crew were returning from a long, cold callout on the 6.5m RIB, the controller turned on the heaters in the locker rooms. What a pleasure to be able to walk into a warm change room after hours of exposure on stormy seas!

Crew comfort and safety were strong factors in NSRI’s decision to upgrade the fleet of deep-sea SEA RESCU E SU MME R 2021

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S TAT I O N N E W S

rescue craft to ORCs over the coming years. NSRI is manned by trained volunteers who go out in all

a loved one for a donation of R2 000. The decals on the side of the cabin, carrying the vessel’s call sign RESCUE 17 will be printed with thousands of names nominated by donors. This means every time NSRI Hermanus launches, those loved ones are launching with the crew to save lives at sea.

Among the donors are well-known public figures Siya Kolisi, Steven Kitshoff and Liezel van der Westhuizen. It’s an incredible legacy to be part of. An opportunity still exists for a major donor to secure the naming rights of the Hermanus ORC. Besides the fact that such a donation is taxdeductible, a sponsor gets the additional benefit of exposure – every time the vessel is involved in an operation during its 40-year lifespan, press releases will include its full sponsorship name.

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SEA RESCUE SUMMER 2021

Heavy-duty wire rope is installed at the station.

The Hermanus crew are looking forward to receiving their new ORC and, in preparation, are conducting joint training sessions with the crew of Station 10 (Simon’s Town), who took delivery of their ORC earlier this year. These training sessions will involve navigating from Simon’s Town to Hermanus and back, alternating crews and coxswains from both stations. This will enable the crew to familiarise themselves with the configuration of the vessel, its navigation and communications equipment and its boat-handling capabilities.

These joint training sessions are extremely beneficial, as learnings and experiences can be shared to better prepare crew members.

While the investments in upgrading the Hermanus base and building the new ORC are immense, they’re necessary to continue to provide an effective rescue service to local communities.

As a non-profit organisation, NSRI is always mindful of spending funding wisely. Having rescue bases and vessels purpose-built with crew safety and wellbeing top of mind ensures that we can continue to save lives on South African waters. When a call for help comes, our volunteers can respond knowing they have the equipment, knowledge and rescue resources they need to bring everyone home safely.

PHOTOGRAPHS: MARK MCLAGAN, STATION 17 (HERMANUS), SUPPLIED

weather conditions and at any time of the day or night. Sometimes this involves crashing through rough weather for hours just to reach a casualty and then a long, slow tow to bring them back to safety. Operations like these are exhausting.

Having a vessel like the ORC, which has pneumatic shock-mitigating seats and is designed to cut through heavy swell, greatly assists in crew endurance ensuring that when they arrive on scene they’re not already fatigued.

In addition, the cabin is soundproofed from the engine room, enabling better communication between crew and greater levels of comfort. The ORC is also equipped with state-of-the-art navigation and communication equipment that ensures more efficient rescue operations.

The ORCs come with a price tag of just over R20 million per vessel, and the builds would not have taken place without the generous donations of many sponsors. The ORC for Hermanus was funded in part by the Launch a Legacy campaign.

This unique campaign enabled donors to honour

ADVERTORI AL

Taking

WATER SAFETY

to rural areas With the help of sponsors like South32, the NSRI is able to spread vital water safety messages to rural areas.

D

elivering important watersafety education to schools and communities in rural areas can be a challenging exercise. This is largely due to the remoteness of certain locations, poor cellphone reception and compromised infrastructures. But, we’re making it work, thanks to the NSRI’s innovative ability, the determination of our water- safety educators and the sponsorships that support us. Our aim is to empower communities with the skills they need to keep themselves and each other safe, to share knowledge of basic rescue, first aid and how rip currents work.

AT THE COAL FACE For more than a year the NSRI water safety teams in rural KZN and along the Eastern Cape’s Wild Coast have been working hard to reduce the drowning statistics in these areas. Leading the pack at the coal face is Port St Johns-based NSRI regional team leader Valerie Barlow who, with the use of an NSRI 4x4 vehicle, travels extensively in

the area giving water safety and CPR lessons as well as teaching community members how to use and maintain the NSRI’s Pink Rescue Buoys.

MAKING HOT SPOTS SAFER On the KZN coast, Richards Bay-based NSRI water safety instructor Mncedisi Hlalatu is following Valerie’s lead. With generous sponsorship from South32, Mncedisi and his colleague Ndumiso Sikhosana have been busy teaching children, adults and community leaders about basic water safety, how to do a safe peer rescue, how to use public rescue equipment (such as Pink Rescue Buoys), how to do bystander CPR and who to call for help in an emergency. Mncedisi, in his NSRI-branded, South32-sponsored 4x4, is also erecting Pink Rescue Buoys at drowning hotspots in the greater Richards Bay area.

We’re confident that the NSRI water safety teams will see a drop in fatal drowning statistics this season and hold their heads high in the knowledge that they’re doing a great job.

SEA RESCUE SUMMER 2021

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W AT E R S A F E T Y

PRIMED for the SEASON Head of NSRI’s Lifeguard Unit Stewart Seini tells us more about preparing for the upcoming season and where lifeguards will be on duty.

T

he NSRI’s Lifeguard Unit kicked off the season by attending the City of Cape Town’s Safety and Security festive season launch in Muizenberg.

We were showcasing our lifeguarding and surf rescue capabilities by demonstrating our all-terrain vehicle, JetRIB, 6-inch croc, quad bikes and lifeguarding trailer.

Our lifeguard trailer will once again be used by the City of Cape Town’s employed lifeguards to safeguard Table View Beach, where, up until the launch of the trailer in that location last year, there had been no lifeguards.

Whereas 25% of the city’s annual fatal drownings used to take place there, this location has had zero fatal drownings since inception.

The volunteer lifeguard season began on the weekend of 6 November and volunteers will be on the beach every weekend and every public holiday until April next year. Station 18 (Melkbosstrand) will launch its lifeguard season by doing a paddle-out to commemorate all those who have lost their lives due to drowning.

We will also have a presence in Knysna this year at two Blue Flag beaches – Brenton-on-Sea and Buffels Bay, also known as ‘Buffs’ – from 1 December, extending to six other beaches from 15 December – Myoli, Sedgefield Mouth, Noetzie, Swartvlei, Knysna, Buffs Wild Side – as well as Karatara swimming pool.

SEA RESCUE SUMMER 2021

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W AT E R S A F E T Y

PREPARATIONS NSRI Lifeguard area manager Mike Wood has been hard at work training locals throughout the year, and ensuring that our current lifeguards undergo Sea Rescue training, as well as lifeguard fitness and rescue training so that every year our lifeguards come back to the beaches stronger and more efficient than before. The lifeguards have been doing voluntary beach duty on Buffs and other high-risk beaches in the Knysna area to ensure they are prepared for the season, understand the hazards on their beaches and are able to operate around them, and to make sure that the beaches are safe for the public, even when we aren’t contractually obligated to be on the beach. Our first priority will always be beach safety and ensuring that we are there to assist anyone in trouble.

Our lifeguards in the area will also be performing voluntary lifeguard duty on Wilderness Beach every weekend up until the beginning of December, when lifeguards from the George Municipality wil be activated on that beach. We will resume our duty there after January, when the municipality’s lifeguards stand down. This enables our lifeguards to operate and be comfortable in different highly hazardous locations, and because Wilderness is a beach where the risk of drowning is high, particularly on weekends, we are ensuring once again that beach safety and the safety of the public come first.

In Strandfontein, Matzikama, we have a lifeguard team on the beach every weekend, and 22 |

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Above: Helen Jordaan, Dr Zahid Badroodien, Vaughn Seconds, Stewart Seini, Nicki Whitehead and Mthetheleli Mdoda.

Left and below: New signage for the new season.

from 15 December (or before, if the town starts getting busy earlier than expected), we will have a full team of lifeguards on the beach every day.

This is our first rescue station where lifeguards and rescue crew are one and the same. The lifeguards have a quad bike and a JetRIB on this highly dangerous beach, and train regularly to make sure they are capable of rescuing anyone in any surf conditions.

In the Saldanha area, we will be operational on five beaches from 15 December: Saldanha, Hoedjiesbaai, Paternoster, St Helena and Leentjiesklip.

The lifeguards here have been training throughout the year in order to be ready for the season.

We will also be operational in Lamberts Bay and Elands Bay, and at Clanwilliam Dam. The

TECH ADVANCES This year has also been quite exciting on the technology front. The lifeguards will be using a new lifeguard app that was developed by Stewart Seini. This app allows the lifeguards to log when they’re on duty and record incidents, preventions, equipment checklists, risk assessments, beach statistics and training.

Area managers have a dashboard version of the beaches under their responsibility, so they can view in real time who is on duty, which units are operational and the status of the operational equipment, as well as the situation on the beach. This enables them to make decisions such as allocating additional personnel or equipment resources.

The Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) at NSRI head office has a dashboard that is able to view all of our lifeguarded areas, allowing it to provide additional support and backup at our lifeguarded beaches. Our management and support structures are what makes our NSRI lifeguards so efficient in their duties, and being able to monitor our beaches in real time from various locations allows us to manage the efficiency of our operations from anywhere.

lifeguards here also have been training throughout the year.

We have been busy training up volunteer lifeguards at Kei Mouth (Morgan Bay) and Mdumbi along the Wild Coast.

NEW SIGNAGE We are also using new beach signage this year.

These include movable warning signs placed directly in front of rip currents and 3m high dolphin flags to indicate safe swimming areas, as well as dangerous conditions signs to be placed along the beach at places where the conditions are too dangerous for swimming.

We will also use 3m x 1m curtain signs to remind people always to swim between the red and yellow flags, to state that the conditions are dangerous, or to use as a privacy barrier when conducting emergency medical treatment in busy public areas.

Our readiness-for-season training has also intensified. We have appointed Rebecca Carter-Smith as the new lifeguard training coordinator to ensure that the high standards of our NSRI lifeguard training are maintained. In addition, we have been putting a lot more attention on building stronger teams. Here, we focus on leadership training and providing our lifeguards with all the training and tools they need.

We strive to be professional surf rescuers with a purpose to lead by example.

Moreover, we have made our medical treatment training as realistic as possible by creating simulations and scenarios that mimic real emergencies under high stress.

This way, our lifeguards are ready for any possible medical emergency, and are able to use the extensive range of basic life-support equipment we give them to save lives in and out of the water.

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SAFETY

Paddler’s family appeals:

‘PLEASE USE SAFETRX’

On Friday 26 February 2021, 46-year-old Rod Johnston launched his surfski from Bali Beach in Cape Town. He was likely planning to paddle a couple of circuits of the bay, not too far from the shore. But he had no idea of the danger he was in.

Rob Mousley tells the story.

I

T WAS 3PM on a classic Cape summer’s day – sunny and clear, with a strong southeasterly wind blowing directly offshore.

A few weeks earlier, Rod Johnston had decided to try surfski paddling: he’d borrowed a ski from a friend and had taken it out a couple of times from a beach near his home in Camps Bay. Being safety conscious, Rod wore a personal flotation device (PFD) and was tethered to his craft with a safety leash.

DECEPTIVE CONDITIONS On days like this, it can appear deceptively calm in the lee of Table Mountain. But a few hundred metres out to sea, the wind accelerates down the mountainside, lashing the water with squalls 24 |

SEA RESCUE SUMMER 2021

of 50 knots or more. And, of course, those howling squalls can arrive without warning as the southeaster grows in strength.

So it’s possible for a paddler to feel safe in the sheltered water close to the rocks but in extreme danger from the maelstrom of wind and spray just a few hundred metres offshore.

Adding to the risk is the water temperature.

Strong southeasters cause upwellings of cold water: as the warmer surface layer is blown offshore, it’s replaced by frigid water flowing up from the deep. Earlier that day, the water temperature at Bakoven had been 8.5°C. One can only speculate what happened, but it wouldn’t have been the first time a paddler was caught out by the conditions on the Atlantic side of the peninsula. Rod may have strayed just a little too far out to

sea or simply been caught by a squall close to shore. Whatever happened, he fell into the frigid water, lost his paddle and couldn’t get back onto his craft. Once immersed, he’d have had a very short time to remount before becoming too cold to do so.

The further he drifted out to sea, the stronger the squalls and the more difficult it would have been to paddle back into them.

THE SEARCH Just before 7pm, he was missed when he failed to arrive for an evening appointment and the NSRI was alerted when it was suspected that he might still be at sea.

The NSRI launched both land and sea searches, with three sea rescue craft scouring the area between Oudekraal and Table Bay until midnight. They resumed the search at dawn,

SAFETY

assisted by the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter, which finally found Rod’s body, still

‘If one person is saved by finding out about SafeTrx, then Rod’s death wouldn’t have been in vain.’

ROD’S SISTER, GEORGETTE

VITAL MESSAGE At his funeral, Rod’s devastated family requested that mourners make donations to the NSRI instead of giving flowers. They raised just over R100 000. The funds are being used to raise awareness of SafeTrx through a series of marketing campaigns.

‘If one person is saved by finding out about SafeTrx, then Rod’s death wouldn’t have been in vain,’ says Rod’s sister Georgette.

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WHAT IS SAFETRX? SafeTrx is an easy-to-use tracking app that is compatible with both Android and iPhone devices. When activated, it reads the phone’s onboard GPS and sends regular position updates to a central computer accessible by sea rescue authorities like the NSRI. Before setting off on a trip, you can tell SafeTrx what your sail plan is, what craft you’re on, where you’re going and what time you expect to arrive. If you don’t explicitly tell SafeTrx that you’ve arrived, the alarm is automatically raised. You can also raise the alarm at any time using the app; the NSRI monitors SafeTrx 24/7 from its Emergency Operations Centre.

You can share your trip with family or friends on shore too, so that they can track your progress and be on standby should anything go wrong.

Rod had a waterproof pouch with him that contained his car keys. If he’d slipped his phone into the pouch and had used SafeTrx, he would have greatly increased his chances of survival .

PHOTOGRAPHS: SIMON MCDONNELL

tethered to the ski, on Saturday morning, some 4.5 nautical miles (8.3km) west of Bantry Point.

Like so many other accidents, this one probably had no single cause but was rather the result of a sequence of unfortunate events.

Had he bought a ski instead of borrowing one, it’s almost certain that Rod would have received safety and other advice about paddling in Cape Town at the shop.

It’s thought that he’d planned to attend a surfski school in Fish Hoek, where he would have been trained in paddling safety – but the school was closed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Had he attended the surfski school, Rod would have been aware that paddling solo is not recommended. He’d have met plenty of like-minded people and probably would have been paddling with others on that fateful day.

And, in any case, he almost certainly would have been told about the RSA SafeTrx tracking app.

BE SAFE & F UND DOWNLOAD THE FREE SAFETRX APP NEVER GO TO SEA WITHOUT LIVE ROUTE TRACKING

TAKE THE SEARCH OUT OF SEARCH AND RESCUE

Donnalee Oerson is a drowning survivor. She joins the #CPRsavedmylife campaign.

Right: Donnalee and Jonathan Thomas practise CPR on a mannequin.

‘CPR SAVED MY LIFE’ World Restart a Heart Day is acknowledged annually on the 16 October.

This year, the global initiative focused on people whose lives have been saved by bystander CPR. The message is simple – everyone can save a life if they know what to do. By Wendy Maritz

O

N WEDNESDAY 13 October, NSRI’s National Team Leader of Water Safety, Eoudia Erasmus, visited a school in Ceres that holds a very special place in her heart.

The timing and mission were somewhat strategic too, as World Restart a Heart Day was being commemorated later that week on Saturday the 16th, and the group of children that Eoudia would be teaching included Donnalee Oerson, 28 |

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whose life was saved three years ago through bystander CPR. ‘When I visited the school on Wednesday to do the presentation for Donnalee and her class, I wondered, “Who would have ever thought the children I taught five years ago at the same school would have saved a life?” The children in question probably never thought they would either. But they did! It is the hope that the critical information

W AT E R S A F E T Y

water-safety instructors teach during these lessons will stick

What is Restart a Heart Day all about?

Restart a Heart Day was with the children and affect founded by the European the way they respond to an Resuscitation Council with emergency in the future. And the support of the European it certainly did for the group of parliament and takes place boys who saved Donnalee’s life on 16 October every year. in October 2018.

In 2021, the focus was on And so, three years to the survivors with the hashtag month later, Eoudia gave #CPRsavedmylife. The aim a water- safety lesson to of the campaign is to send out the message that anyone Donnalee’s class. Donnalee, her did exactly what they had can learn CPR and save now 11 years old, doesn’t been told to do during a water a life. (Visit the European remember much about the safety lesson three years prior.

Resuscitation Council’s day four friends rushed to her They didn’t run away; they website at www.erc.edu/ aid after she was pulled out started doing CPR, taking turns for more information.) of the dam where she had for about three minutes, before been swimming. ‘Donnalee is the little girl gasped for air. very shy,’ says Eoudia, ‘but she was very eager Waylen Malan, Gabriel Filander, Keanen Jansen to practise hands-on CPR. She even helped her and Wesley Storm will forever remain heroes in friend Jonathan Thomas to perform CPR on the Eoudia’s eyes. mannequin,’ Eoudia says. Donnalee now has the skills to be able to save a life one day.

How you can help For Eoudia, Donnalee’s story remains the highlight of her career. Its poignancy speaks to the dedication of Eoudia and her team of water-safety instructors. Drowning is silent, and by empowering children and young adults in rural communities to be able to act quickly when they see someone in trouble, tragedy can be averted.

Drowning deaths affect families and the wider community in far-reaching ways, especially if breadwinners in a family lose their lives to drowning, which is a major cause of accidental death in South Africa, even though it is preventable.

On that day when Donnalee was pulled out of the water, the four youngsters who came to help

Since the NSRI’s Water Safety programme started in 2006, the water-safety message has reached more than 3 million people. Currently, the NSRI has 21 full-time instructors who visit schools and clubs around the country and teach people about water safety. Lessons are offered free of charge, are presented in a fun and interactive way, are age-appropriate and delivered in the mother tongue of the learners. Visit www.nsri.org.za/ funding/donate/ to donate towards water-safety lessons. It costs just R10 per person, so even a small donation will make a difference.

Enrol in a class to learn CPR. Visit www.resus.co.za to find a training centre near you.

SEA RESCUE SUMMER 2021

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CLUB K I D S CLUB KIDS T

U O B A L AL

survival swimming swimming survival At the beginning of 2020 Sea Rescue launched its Survival Swimming programme, which teaches children the basic skills to stay afloat should they find themselves in difficulty in the water. Survival swimming covers four main skills:

Breath control

To breathe properly in the water

Orientation

To feel comfortable in the water

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gng

Floating

To float safely on your back

Survivial swimming classes are taught free of charge by our team of instructors who want to show children how to be safe in the water.

If you have questions or comments please contact us: Email: survivalswimming@searescue.org.za Phone: 021 434 4011 WhatsApp: 072 546 9579

Kicking

To move yourself to safety

Call 112 from your cellphone

or landline

for help

Place a cloth, T-shirt or towel over the patient’s mouth and nose to prevent infection.

CPR and who to call in an emergency

Copy and keep this guide on how to do CPR if someone is not breathing.

Posture: Keep your shoulders over your hands.

Arms: Straight arms, elbows locked.

Hands: Place hands in the centre of the chest, just above the nipple line. Push hard and fast in the centre of the chest.

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NEWS

TWO IMRF AWARDS FOR NSRI IN 2021 EACH year the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) recognises search and rescue (SAR) professionals around the world for their outstanding actions, skills, expertise and commitment to innovation and technology that transform SAR activities. These awards are highly valued and regarded globally.

The National Sea Rescue Institute has been the recipient of IMRF nominations and awards several times in previous years. In 2017, the NSRI’s Water Safety programme was chosen as a runner-up in the team category, in 2018 NSRI’s Pink Rescue Buoy initiative won the IMRF Innovation and Technology Award, and in 2019, Station 14 (Plettenberg Bay) was a runner-up in the Innovation and Technology Award category for the purpose design of a stretcher that can be used for coastline rock-and-surf patient extrication.

This year the awards were announced online on 14 September, and the NSRI walked away with two IMRF awards as well as the People’s Choice Award.

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NSRI’S JETRIB: INNOVATION IN SURF RESCUE The first award was won by the team behind the South African JetRIB, which is a combination of a four-stroke Yamaha VX1050 Jet Ski with an extension hull and Hypalon pontoons for rescues in the surf. The team was given the IMRF Award for Innovation and Technology.

‘A lot of research and development was conducted by Droomers Yamaha, Admiral Powercats and the NSRI,’ says NSRI training manager Graeme Harding. ‘We did a lot of testing and then, when we went on a countrywide tour to demonstrate it to all of the surf stations, we got buy-in from the coxswains and crews.

The concept and design is owed to a bigger team than just the guys here at head office.

We had feedback from people throughout the organisation. To win an international award for a new kind of vessel is a really big thing for us, and we’re very proud of it. We hope the JetRIB goes around the world and saves hundreds and hundreds of lives.’

According to Graeme, this innovation has already made a huge difference here in South Africa.

‘First of all, there are no propellers in the water, so if people are being washed around in

‘I will continue my service with the National Sea Rescue Institute for as long as I am needed and for as long as my health allows.’

PAT VAN EYSSEN

the surf or under the boat, there’s no chance of propeller injuries,’ he explains. ‘In addition, with conventional engines on the surf boats, if you do get rolled over, the engine no longer works. With the JetRIB, you just right it and off you go. It’s also very easily operated in the surf by a single person. And it has phenomenal sea-keeping capabilities. It’s just a complete game changer for rescues in the surf.’

The JetRIB accommodates a helmsman and two rescue swimmers and is very stable, even in rough surf conditions. During the testing phase, which was conducted at various stations around the country, the feedback from the coxswains was unanimous.

‘The biggest advantage of the JetRIB is crew safety, reduction of impact on the crew and the reduced risk of injury to crew and casualties when operating in the surf zone,’ said one coxswain. Another commented on its ease of use, saying, ‘The craft is agile and responsive and easy to manoeuvre in tricky situations.’

PAT VAN EYSSEN: A LIFETIME OF SERVICE Patrick van Eyssen, known as ‘Pat’ to family, friends and fellow crew, joined the NSRI on 4 June 1971 at the age of 18. Since then he has clocked more than 10 000 sea hours and plenty more mentoring, teaching and leading at Station 3 (Table Bay), where he has also held the position of station commander for many years. Pat was honoured this year for 50 years of service to the NSRI, and is currently the only active sea-going volunteer with this many service years.

Pat was given the Vladimir Maksimov Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedication and years of service. ‘When I received the call from Dr Cleeve Robertson informing me that I had won the IMRF award, I was absolutely overwhelmed, as I never expected anything like this,’ Pat says. In addition to this accolade, Pat was the overwhelming favourite in the IMRF’s People’s Choice Award, an honour determined by public vote.

‘I will continue my service with the National Sea Rescue Institute for as long as I am needed and for as long as my health allows,’ Pat says.

SE SA E AR R ES EC SU CU E ES P SR PR I NI N G G2 022012 0 |

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NEWS

TAKING DROWNING PREVENTION EVEN FURTHER THE NSRI and Power Plastics have collaborated and come up with two innovative ways to overcome common obstacles in water-safety education.

POOL PLATFORM FOR TEACHING One of the issues people face when learning to swim is access to safe water,’ explains drowning prevention coordinator Yaseen Gamiet. For teaching purposes, the water depth should be 1.1m.

Some pools might be too deep and the heights of the children being taught might differ, so in order 34 |

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The submersible platform that can be placed in a pool to create a safe space that complies with the maximum 1.1m requirement for teaching survival swimming.

to make the teaching area shallower, Yaseen came up with the idea of creating a submersible

teacher, a change room for kids, and lockers for storage,’ Andrew says.

platform that can be placed in a pool to create a safe space that complies with the maximum 1.1m requirement. If the pool is 1.5m deep, for example, the platform can be placed in the pool to change the depth to 1m, creating a safe teaching space. Power Plastics create robust pool covers, so it seemed logical to approach them to create a cover to use in conjunction with the platform.

‘It’s not only for our own use. Ultimately, our Survival Swimming platform designs and training manual will be available to everybody in the world so we can stop drownings. So we’ll be able to say, if your pool is too deep, here is a platform. Build it as we have advised and put it in the pool so you have a safe pool to teach in,’ Yaseen says.

A proof of concept for the platform has been created and is currently being tested by Yaseen and his team.

‘I’ve been speaking to Power Plastics for many years about safety around swimming pools, as they are absolute experts in it. We also contacted swimming pool manufacturing specialists and came up with a whole bunch of companies who are really excited about working with us,’ he adds.

Power Plastics will be providing the cover that goes over the pool. The main function of the cover will be to prevent evaporation and condensation inside the containers.

‘PORTABLE’ INDOOR SWIMMING POOLS Another obstacle faced by the NSRI’s Drowning Prevention Department is providing safe water structures where children and adults can be taught survival swimming skills. Many municipalities either don’t have community swimming pools or lack the resources to maintain them. Moreover, any swimming pool that can be accessed by the public poses a drowning risk. NSRI’s Drowning Prevention Department is continuously finding ways to spread the water safety message. Now the team has come up with a novel idea based on shipping containers that are already being used as bases for the NSRI’s Lifeguard Unit.

‘I thought we could take this to the next level,’ says the department’s manager, Andrew Ingram.

‘If we use a 12m shipping container, we can build a 5m swimming pool with a 1m addition for a pump, and have space for an office for the

‘I thought we could take this to the next level. If we use a 12m shipping container, we can build a 5m swimming pool with a 1m addition for a pump, and have space for an office for the teacher, a change room for kids, and lockers for storage.’

ANDREW INGRAM ‘The covers will cut out about 90% of the evaporation and condensation of water in the containers. Power Plastics will make them from offcuts, which is a really lekker way of using materials that otherwise would not be used.’

The first containers will hopefully go into production in the coming weeks and, if all goes well, the proof of concept will be tested somewhere near Cape Town in December.

‘The beauty of the container is that we’ll place it in a safe area at a school, and then teach Survival Swimming skills for that school and neighbouring schools at no cost,’ Andrew says. ‘And when we get to a point where we have taught all of the children in that area, we simply move the container to another area. We anticipate moving it every couple of years to where it is most needed.’

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NEWS

WATER SAFETY FOR INDUSTRY To address the occupational hazards present in jobs that involve people working in or near water, the NSRI has designed a course that focuses on these dangers and how employees can deal with them safely.

‘The Water Safety For Industry [WS4i] course can be described as a version of NSRI’s Water Safety lesson for adults, which is tailored to speak directly to the prevalent dangers in a specific industry or working environment,’ says NSRI’s drowning prevention coordinator

Yaseen Gamiet. The course content is decided after a fact-finding discussion between the NSRI and the company involved. In addition, Yaseen goes to the site and takes photographs of people working there and their environment. ‘During the course’s practical session, we look at the photographs and I ask participants to highlight the dangers they see. I then tell them what I, as someone from a rescue crew, think the dangers are as well as what is probable. It becomes super-interactive and huge debates take place,’ Yaseen explains.

‘The Water Safety For Industry [WS4i] course can be described as a version of NSRI’s Water Safety lesson for adults, which is tailored to speak directly to the prevalent dangers in a specific industry or working environment.’

YASEEN GAMIET, NSRI’S DROWNING PREVENTION COORDINATOR

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By the end of the WS4i course, participants should exhibit a sufficient level of water safety knowledge and practical ability, which includes being able to rescue a peer safely, rescue themselves, and effectively perform simple and safe rescue techniques with basic equipment, Yaseen says.

‘They should also have a good grasp of performing hands-on bystander CPR in the event of an emergency. Ultimately we are aiming to create multiple first responders. We’ve had really good feedback so far.’

The NSRI’s Drowning Prevention Department has already tailored a course that addresses various hazards encountered by domestic workers, gardeners and housekeepers, particularly in homes with swimming pools.

‘The benefits are threefold. They will be able to keep themselves safe, their children will be safer because their parents know about water safety and CPR, and while they are working they can act as the first responders for their employers.’

‘The benefits are threefold. They will be able to keep themselves safe, their children will be safer because their parents know about water safety and CPR, and while they are working they can act as the first responders for their employers,’ Yaseen says.

For more information on the WS4i course, email Yaseen at yaseen@searescue.org.za.

SPONSOR NEWS WE’RE GOING PINK WITH PLAKKIE AND SPEEDO SLIP INTO PLAKKIES While most retailers were gearing up to save consumers money in the week leading up to Black Friday, South African flip-flop brand Plakkie was gearing up to save lives.

To do so, they asked consumers to pay full price for a very specific item.

Here’s why.

Every cent made from the sale of a ‘Pink is for Buoys’ flip-flop is donated to the NSRI’s Pink Rescue Buoy initiative. Plakkie makes no profit on any of these sales.

The NSRI is installing Pink Rescue Buoys on South African beaches and inland dams where traditionally lifeguards are not present. These devices function as flotation, so if someone gets into trouble in the water, a buoy can be thrown to the person in distress to hold onto until help arrives. So far more than 1 300 buoys have been To become a Pink Rescue Buoy volunteer or to contribute to the programme, contact Andrew on pinkrescuebuoys@searescue.org.za or visit nsri.org.za

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installed around the country since the initiative began in 2017. To date 80 lives have been saved from their use.

They are bright pink so they are easily visible to responding rescuers. On the sign post where the buoy is secured, you’ll find the telephone number for the emergency service to call.

Plakkie and the NSRI want to continue saving more lives by installing as many Pink Rescue Buoys as possible. ‘We have named all our Plakkies after our great South African beaches and in that, we feel we have an amazing opportunity to talk to everyone about them. We use our beaches on a daily basis, but the majority know very little about them. This project is critical for us to educate everyone, not only about the fun side of our beaches but also how to enjoy them safely,’ said Ross Zondagh, MD of Plakkie.

To purchase your very own pair of Plakkies in aid of the NSRI, visit plakkie.co.za.

P L AT I N U M PA R T N E R S

SPORT A SPEEDO Swimwear brand Speedo has also recognised the value of safe peer rescue through the use of strategically placed Pink Rescue Buoys and is partnering with the NSRI to help install more of these life-saving devices. And what better way than to donate a portion of sales from swimwear? Speedo has designed a limited-edition Pink Rescue Buoy capsule range consisting of a men’s and ladies’ swimsuit, a swim cap and teamster rucksack – a great way to reinforce the partnership between the NSRI and Speedo, and raise awareness of Pink Rescue Buoys. Speedo will donate 20% from the sales of this range to the initiative. Speedo will also donate 10% from the sales of its Essentials range, which is their regular swimsuit collection.

Speedo aims to raise enough money for 20 Pink Rescue Buoys in 2022, the funding for 15 will come from the sales of swim gear, and five through a nifty QR-code based fundraising prompt that will appear at the check-out of their online shop.

Working together in this way will build awareness for the NSRI, Speedo and Plakkie and the three companies are equally excited about being able to play an integral part in ongoing drowning prevention initiatives.

Visit speedo.co.za for more information.

THANK YOU FOR THE DONATIONS RECEIVED IN MEMORY OF: Malcolm Wright (Crew Stn 17) / Roderick Johnston / Mark Koen / Maggie Flint / Patricia James / Neil Jackson / Don Perry / Herbert Syre / L Snyman / Karin Fulton / Geoff Sonnenberg / Stuart Heyns / Leon and Shirley Steyn / Jane Feather / Mark Feather

S T R AT E G I C PA R T N E R S

G O L D PA R T N E R S Africa Bunkering & Shipping / Afritech Equipment Solutions (Pty) Ltd / AMSOL / AMTEC / Cyclone Engineering Projects (Pty) Ltd / Damen Shipyards Cape Town (Pty) Ltd / Denso SA (Pty) Ltd / Denys Edwardes (Pty) Ltd / Freddy Hirsch Group / Höegh Autoliners (Pty) Ltd / Komicx Products (Pty) Ltd / Macs Maritime Carrier Shipping / Marlyn Vulindlela (Pty) Ltd / MiX Telematics International (Pty) Ltd / NCS Resins / Press Spinning & Stamping Co / Producer Ally Pty Ltd / RF Design / Resolve Salvage & Fire (Pty) Ltd / Richards Bay Coal Terminal / Ruwekus Fishing (Pty) Ltd / SMD Telecommunications (Pty) Ltd / Striker Fishing Enterprises (Pty) Ltd / Two Oceans Aquarium Trust / VVM Inc

SEA RESCUE SUMMER 2021

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N E W S TAT I O N S

T

HE WILD COAST is a 250km stretch of coastline in the Eastern Cape that extends

St Johns, but it was unable to maintain sufficient crew to keep it operational,’ he adds.

from Kei Mouth near Morgan Bay up to the Mtamvuna River close to the province’s border with KwaZulu-Natal. It’s an area of breathtaking natural beauty – desolate, rustic beaches, precipitous craggy cliffs, secluded bays, rolling green hills and river valleys – that attracts droves of holidaymakers eager to trade busy city life for a week or two of coastal country living.

The Wild Coast is, however, largely unattended by a permanent NSRI service, with Station 7 (East London) and Station 32 (Port Edward) flanking the region and responding to callouts when required.

‘The need for NSRI to provide support to a stretch of coastline this long is unquestionable,’ says NSRI Operations Manager Bruce Sandmann.

‘In past years, a rescue station was based in Port

Recent drowning incidents, yachts requiring assistance and vessels in distress off the Wild Coast have confirmed the need for a Sea Rescue presence, so the decision was made to reactivate the station at Port St Johns as well as establish two lifeguard stations in strategic positions along the coast: Kei Mouth (Station 47) and Mdumbi (Station 49), near Coffee Bay. In the run-up to the re-opening of the station at Port St Johns at the end of November, five NSRI crew have been trained to operate vessels out of the river mouth to assist those in difficulty at sea.

Port St Johns will operate as all other NSRI stations do, with ongoing training, development and support from head office. The lifeguard stations were also earmarked to be up and running by the end of November, in time for the holiday season.

Expanding our

FOOTPRINT

The NSRI will soon be reopening Station 28 (Port St Johns) and launching two lifeguard stations at Kei Mouth and Mdumbi Beach to provide a much-needed rescue service along one of South Africa’s most picturesque – and dangerous – coastlines, the Wild Coast. By Wendy Maritz

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Port Edward

LIFEGUARD STATIONS Lifeguard stations are usually launched

Port St Johns as an NSRI-municipal collaboration, with members of the Mdumbi local community given the necessary training by the NSRI, and Coffee Bay Lubanzi the relevant municipality providing equipment and remuneration.

Bashee River Mouth The Wild Coast has a number of challenges in this regard, so the Mazeppa Bay NSRI presented a proposal to the municipality for a strategic Morgans Bay initiative that would see Kei Mouth the NSRI, local hotels, rate payers and the community assisting to subsidise the SAFETY FIRST Members of the public are urged to take every lifeguards with the equipprecaution around water. Lifeguards are on the ment and remuneration needed beach to keep people safe. Listen to their advice to have a continued presence on the beaches and adhere to the rules of the beach. Please during the holiday season and beyond. follow these general safety rules: › Avoid swimming where no lifeguards are ‘This initiative has proven to be very successful present. in other regions in the country and we believe › Never swim under the influence of alcohol. it will support the community to provide better › Supervise children, in even shallow surf. safety on the beaches along the Wild Coast,’ › Swim in between the lifeguard flags, as these areas are deemed safe.

Bruce explains. › Never swim alone – always swim with a buddy.

The plan is to have 20 lifeguards at Station 47 › Don’t swim in regular clothing.

(Kei Mouth), who will cover Kei and Morgan’s Bay, › Learn rip current safety so you know what to do and 22 lifeguards at Station 49 (Mdumbi), who will if you get caught in one. Go to www.nsri.org.za/ water-safety/all-about-rip-currents. cover Coffee Bay and Mthatha River.

The stations should be operational by the start of the summer season, and all training will be ongoing. So far, Bruce has been impressed by the enthusiasm and drive shown by the various crews in training.

NSRI CEO Dr Cleeve Robertson says, ‘The Wild Coast is a special place, with spectacular scenery, vibrant oceans and beautiful beaches, but it is called “wild” for a reason, not least of which the many rivers that run into the sea and the ocean itself. The coastline is dynamic and hostile, not

kind to its many visitors and users – fisherman, lobster wranglers, surfers, boaters and swimmers – and so the necessity for rescue services here is a no-brainer, not only for safety reasons but as a safety net for an emerging economy. We are committing to support communities on the Wild Coast to evolve services from our experience but using their local knowledge and talent to create a sustainable network of facilities to deliver a range of drowning-prevention and rescue services.’

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NOW YOU SEE ME...

Naturalist Georgina Jones sheds light on the enigmatic coelacanth.

A

MOST TANTALISING FISH, the coelacanth. Popping up unexpectedly

in time and place, perplexing in reproduction, behaviourally enigmatic, a bony fish more closely related to mammals and reptiles than to other bony fish; coelacanths are fascinating.

The ancient history of the coelacanth begins about 400 million years ago, with Miguashaia.

The first coelacanth described by science, Coelacanthus, lived about 260 million years ago.

Its name was derived from the hollow spines supporting the fish’s powerful tail fin. The line diversified in shape, size and habitat, exploiting all aquatic environments around the world. But by the time of the dinosaurs, it had dwindled to the most recent coelacanth fossil known, Swenzia, when, so far as anyone knew, they became extinct.

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They rose to prominence again in the great controversies surrounding evolution, being suggested as the possible ancestor of landdwelling vertebrates. Their eight powerful lobed fins and heavy spiny scales hinted at a possible link to the earliest land-dwelling vertebrates, a link that was later disproved as other, more likely, ancestors were discovered.

The recent chapters in the coelacanth story began just before the start of World War II, offshore of the Chalumna River in the Eastern Cape. A trawl in 40-70m of water produced, along with the normal load of ‘edibles’ (hake, kingklip, seabream), a large deep blue fish with white markings and a huge lamp-like eye. It looked very different to the other fishes: as well as its size, it had an unusual number of fins and a very strange-looking tail.

ENVIRONMENT

population, named it Latimeria chalumnae, and immediately posted a reward for the capture of another. Silence for 14 years until Smith received notification that a second fish had been found, this time off the Comores islands. Undeterred by the fact that the islands were French possessions, Smith got hold of DF Malan, then South African prime minister, and asked for help. Which resulted in a South African military plane arriving back in South Africa, along with a second coelacanth, an exultant JLB Smith and, astonishingly, an absence of international incidents, though the French took the lead in coelacanth studies for a while after that.

Sodwana coelacanths have been found between 54 and 133 metres, depths within the reach of technical divers.

The trawler captain was accustomed to keeping aside any unusual finds for the local museum curator. Which was how Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer found herself loading 2m of already smelly fish into a wheelbarrow several hours later. No taxi driver could be found to transport the carcase, nor could she find refrigeration for it. She tried to communicate with JLB Smith, then an amateur ichthyologist and on holiday at the time, but eventually in desperation, thinking the fish must somehow be preserved, she took it to the local taxidermist. In the process of stuffing the fish, the internal organs were discarded but enough remained for Smith to know it for what it was. A living representative of a family of fishes last seen 65 million years before. The find created a worldwide sensation.

Smith concluded it was a stray from a distant SEA RESCUE SUMMER 2021

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ENVIRONMENT

It turned out that Comoro fishers occasion-

fertilization, but how sperm is transferred is still unknown since the males have only a cloacal opening. Their eggs are huge, about the size of oranges, and at over 300g, are the biggest eggs known of all the fishes. The pups are born at about 36cm after a gestation period of perhaps three years.

Most biological understanding came from the study of dead or dying specimens until German-led submersible work began in the 1980s. Working in depths of 120-400m, the coelacanth was established to be a generally slow-moving fish which rests in caves in groups during the day, possibly for protection from predators. They emerge at night to drift above the ocean floor, presumably in search of prey.

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coelacanths and since then a total of 33 individual fish have been found in depths ranging from 54 to 133m. This is much shallower than those off the Comores, possibly because the cooler water off Sodwana, being richer in oxygen, supports the coelacanths’ inefficient gills.

But perhaps coelacanths have an even greater range around our coast. The offshore topography is suggestive of coelacanth habitat and as the water gets colder and more oxygen-rich further south, who knows? There’s an unsubstantiated tale from a Wild Coast spearfisherman in the 70s of a coelacanth in 27m of water. Also, divers exploring a reef off southern KwaZulu-Natal in 2019 came across a huge blue fish with a large lamp-like eye... A tantalising fish indeed.

PHOTOGRAPHS: PETER TIMM

ally caught coelacanths.

They didn’t target them because their flesh is oily, Coelacanths shelter in caves and unpalatable from urea and under overhangs during the day. tends to cause diarrhoea.

Work then began on their biology. Unlike all other vertebrates, coelacanths They are capable of sudden bursts of speed, have a joint between their upper jaws and the rest using their powerful tail fin, and seem to use their of their skulls, which may aid them in engulfing pectoral fins mainly for turning and stability. large prey fishes. Their brains are small, taking Since their discovery, coelacanths had been up less than 2% of the skull, and at the front of caught off East Africa and Madagascar, but in the skull is a mysterious organ, possibly an 1998, another strange fish was spotted in a fish electroreceptor, with three external openings. market in Indonesia This turned out to be another The eyes have many rods which aid vision in species of coelacanth, Latimeria menadoensis. their low light environment.

Meanwhile, unconvinced by Smith’s ‘stray’ Their skeletons are mostly made of cartilage designation, the search for coelacanths conlike those of sharks and rays, and instead of a tinued in South Africa. Similarities between the vertebral column, they have a thick cartilaginous underwater topography of the Comores and oil-filled tube, which is flexible and supports the the slopes and overhangs offshore of Sodwana spinal cord. They have a large fat-filled swimsuggested coelacanth habitats. In 2000, divers bladder for buoyancy regulation. saw three fish with huge eyes under an overhang Reproductively, coelacanths have internal at 104m. A second expedition confirmed three

FISH TALES

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Coelacanths are fascinating creatures.

They were swimming in the ocean long before dinosaurs walked the earth.

Test your knowledge and see how many of the questions below you can answer.

Don’t peek at the answers. › How many fins does a coelacanth have? › What colour is the coelacanth? › What are baby coelacanths called? › Where is the coelacanth most at home? › What is the study of fish known as? › What is the name of the craft of preserving, arranging and displaying animal bodies?

Find the words:

1. Fish 2. Swim 3. Blue 4. Turtle 5. Pup 6. Bubble 7. Pod 8. Seal

Have some fun and colour in the coelacanth in your favourite colour!

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Answers: 1. 8 2. Blue 3. Pups 4. The ocean floor 5. Ichthyology 6. Taxidermy

in

NSRI BASE LOCATIONS

The NSRI is manned by more than 1 350 volunteers at over 50 rescue bases, including satellite or auxiliary stations and inland dams.

In addition, more than 20 Lifeguard Units have been established around the country.

43 Port Nolloth

NORTHERN CAPE

Strandfontein (West Coast) 45 Lambert’s Bay 24

4 Mykonos Yzerfontein 34 Bakoven Hout Bay

ASR

Kommetjie Simon’s Town Strandfontein Monwabisi (Satellite)

WESTERN CAPE

Melkbosstrand

18 29 3 Table Bay 2 16 Theewaterskloof Dam 38 8 10 9 26 Hermanus 42 33 17 30

Kleinmond Gordon’s Bay Strand (Satellite)

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SEA RESCUE SUMMER 2021

Agulhas

Knysna

Mossel Bay 15 31

Witsand

Still Bay

23

12 14

Wilderness Sedgefield (Satellite)

46

35 Witbank Dam

25 Hartbeespoort Dam

27 Gauteng

NORTH WEST 22

MPUMALANGA

Vaal Dam

St Lucia

KWAZULU-NATAL

FREE STATE

40

Richards Bay 19

41 Ballito

Durban 5 39 Rocky Bay 20 Shelly Beach 32 Port Edward

Port St Johns 28 [Aux]

EASTERN CAPE

49

Kei Mouth 47 (Aux]

Mdumbi [Aux]

7 East London Plettenberg Bay Storms River [Aux] 46

36

37 21

11 Port Alfred

6 Port Elizabeth Jeffreys Bay

St Francis Bay Oyster Bay

In an emergency

call 112 from your cellphone

or NSRI Emergency

Operations Centre (EOC)

087 094 9774 Find a location on this map or on our website nsri.org.za

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GENERAL NEEDS PLEASE CONTACT ALISON SMITH IF YOU CAN ASSIST WITH ANY OF THE FOLLOWING: › Data projectors and speakers or flat-screen TVs for training › GoPros or similar waterproof devices to film training sessions › Good-quality waterproof binoculars › Prizes for golf days and fundraising events › Towels for casualties › Groceries such as tea, coffee, sugar and cleaning materials

› › › › › › › › ›

Long-life energy bars Wet and dry vacuum cleaners Dehumidifiers Small generators Good-quality toolkits Top-up supplies for medical kits Waterproof pouches for cellphones Tea cups/coffee mugs/glasses for events Training-room chairs

TEL 082 992 1191 OR EMAIL ALISON@SEARESCUE.ORG.ZA

RESCUE BASES NORTHERN CAPE 43 063 698 8971 Port Nolloth WESTERN CAPE 45 066 586 7992 Standfontein (Matzikama) 24 060 960 3027 Lambert’s Bay 04 082 990 5966 Mykonos 34 082 990 5974 Yzerfontein 18 082 990 5958 Melkbosstrand 03 082 990 5963 Table Bay 02 082 990 5962 Bakoven 08 082 990 5964 Hout Bay 26 082 990 5979 Kommetjie 29 082 990 5980 Air Sea Rescue 10 082 990 5965 Simon’s Town 16 082 990 6753 Strandfontein 09 072 448 8482 Gordon’s Bay 42 063 699 2765 Kleinmond 17 082 990 5967 Hermanus 38 072 446 6344 Theewaterskloof Dam 30 082 990 5952 Agulhas 33 082 990 5957 Witsand 31 082 990 5978 Still Bay 15 082 990 5954 Mossel Bay 23 082 990 5955 Wilderness 12 082 990 5956 Knysna 14 082 990 5975 Plettenberg Bay

EASTERN CAPE 46 076 092 2465 Storms River [Aux] 36 082 990 5968 Oyster Bay 21 082 990 5969 St Francis Bay 37 079 916 0390 Jeffreys Bay 06 082 990 0828 Port Elizabeth 11 082 990 5971 Port Alfred 49 087 094 9774 Mdumbi [Aux] 47 076 100 2829 Kei Mouth [Aux] 07 082 990 5972 East London 28 082 550 5430 Port St Johns [Aux] KZN 32 082 990 5951 Port Edward 20 082 990 5950 Shelly Beach 39 072 652 5158 Rocky Bay 41 063 699 2687 Ballito 05 082 990 5948 Durban 19 082 990 5949 Richards Bay 40 063 699 2722 St Lucia MPUMALANGA 35 060 962 2620 Witbank Dam GAUTENG 27 060 991 9301 Gauteng NORTH WEST 25 082 990 5961 Hartbeespoort Dam FREE STATE 22 083 626 5128 Vaal Dam

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTRE DUTY PHONE: 087 094 9774 48 |

SEA RESCUE SUMMER 2021

MAKE A DIRECT DONATION ON OUR WEBSITE OR USE ONE OF THE OPTIONS BELOW. FOR DEPOSITS AND EFTS: ABSA Heerengracht Branch code: 506 009 Account number: 1382480607 Account holder: National Sea Rescue Institute Swift code: ABSA-ZA-JJ DONATE ONLINE: https://www.nsri.org.za /support-us/donate If you choose to do an EFT, please use your telephone number as a unique reference so that we are able to acknowledge receipt, or email your proof of payment to donations@searescue.org.za.

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