Sea Rescue magazine

Winner of the 2007 PICA for Excellence in Magazine Publishing and Journalism i n t h e ca t e g o r y B u s i n e s s t o B u s i n e s s : E s s e n t i a l S e r v i c e s

winter 2009

R14.95 > Free to NSRI members

Home safe Rescued after five hours in the ocean

The secret life of

seahorses

‘i learnt my lesson’ children and water safety

behind

the scenes

Shore crew keep it all together

Spotlight on At the 22nd session of the International Maritime Organisation

However, by the time the 75th Session of the IMO’s Maritime Safety

(IMO) Assembly in London, a debate was raging about appropriate

Committee gathered to consider the measures in May 2002, the

measures to be taken by the maritime community in order to prevent

terrorist attacks against the American naval vessel USS Cole and

acts of terrorism that threaten the security of maritime shipping,

the French VLCC merchant ship Limburg had occurred, putting

and to avoid the ‘use of commercial vessels as weapons of mass

to rest the debate on whether the spectre of maritime terrorism

destruction’. This was in December 2001, just three months after

was an American ‘thing’ and if additional measures of security

the shock of the World Trade Center attacks in the United States of

were necessary. The phenomenon of maritime terrorism and the

America. Some felt that the measures being proposed by the United

resultant maritime security were internationalised, putting on the

States were exaggerated and disproportionate. Others went along,

agenda the challenges of how to secure maritime supply chains

mostly reluctantly. The USA had proposed, among others, that the

and the very integrity of the maritime transportation system itself.

following measures be considered and/or reviewed:

The development and adoption of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code has proven to be an effective and timely

3 The installation of automatic identification systems on ships 3 The need for security plans on ships, port facilities and off-shore installations 3 The identification verification and background security checks for seafarers 3 The container sealing measures from point of origin to their destination

response by the international maritime community to specific types of ship and port facility threats. However, it is not, and was not meant to be the total solution to the maritime security threats.

In the context of South Africa, the country did well to put shoulder to the wheel and ensure compliance with the ISPS code requirements. The past five years of implementing the ISPS regime have provided insights into both its strengths and limitations. The conceptual basis for the development of this system has proven once again the major shifts in the forms, types and structures of

Maritime Security the maritime threats being experienced. The old concept of global security as a subset of the discipline ‘International Relations’ – and therefore the preoccupation with ‘national security’, ‘state security and military issues’ – is an inadequate guide in dealing with maritime security threats today.

The ISPS code failed to address the fundamental aspect that gives consideration to human security as a basis for a comprehensive maritime security system. It has been used to sanitise the ports and ships of the human presence, emphasising ‘no-go-zoning’ in these areas, instead of integrating maritime and shipping security with human security. Piracy off and around the coast of Somalia, including the shootings related to the release of the Maersk Alabama, would not fit into the old framework of maritime security interpretations. The ISPS regime will only function effectively when it is integrated into the overall maritime supply chain security and is based not on state and national security, but human security defined as: ‘Safety for people from violent and non-violent threats.

It is a condition or state of being characterised by freedom from pervasive threats to people’s rights, their safety, or even their lives.

This would include the right to inhabit areas that are not detrimental to their health and well-being.’

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CONTENTS winter 2009 FROM THE HELM

CEO Ian Wienburg has a word

04

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE Your views, the winning letter, boating manuals for sale, giveaways and a chance to win with our subscription drive

12

WHEN THINGS GO WRONG...

Watersports enthusiast Paul Ingpen discovers he’s not a bullet-proof dad

news and events Fundraising efforts and sponsor news

LIFEBOAT CIRCLE Teas and tours for our loyal supporters

05 10 12 17

AGAINST ALL ODDS

16

Wayne Bergstrom is given another chance after spending five gruelling hours in the sea after his boat capsized

HOW DID WAYNE DO IT? Surviving in the elements – Dr Cleeve Robertson tells us more

THE HEALING POWER OF OXYGEN Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has become a lifesaver for many

TINY DANCERS We take a look at the secret life of seahorses

keeping it all together

18

More on Sea Rescue’s shore crew – the nerve centre of the NSRI

SAVING LIVES, ONE CALL AT A TIME We meet the Call Centre crew who raise funds for Sea Rescue

rescue reports station directory AT THE END OF MY TETHER What to do when your brain is stagnating and you’re afraid of tsunamis?

26

18 21 24 26 28 32 35 42 44

PLUS WIN A WEEKEND’S STAY AT KNYSNA HOLLOW ESTATE VALUED at R3 000 (PAGE 27) OR A LUMINOX WATCH WORTH MORE THAN R5 000 (PAGE 30)

The Crew

from the helm

THE PUBLISHING PARTNERSHIP MANAGING EDITOR Wendy Maritz ART DIRECTOR Tara Keane ADVERTISING Jean Ramsay Director strategy & marketing Paul Ingpen EXECUTIVE DirectorS Mark Beare, John Morkel Editorial address PO Box 15054, Vlaeberg 8018 TEL +2721 ­424-3517 FAX +2721 424-3612 Email wmaritz@tppsa.co.za Reproduction Hirt & Carter Printing ABC Press, Cape Town ISBN 1812-0644 Sea rescue marketing director Meriel Bartlett, NSRI, PO Box 154, Green Point, 8051 WEBSITE www.nsri.org.za CONTRIBUTORS Dave Sievwright, Craig Lambinon, Chris Hudson, Clive Shamley, Andrew Ingram, Krista French Produced for NSRI by The Publishing Partnership (Pty) Ltd, PO Box 15054, Vlaeberg, 8018. Copyright The Publishing Partnership (Pty) Ltd 2009. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without the prior permission of the editor. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not NSRI. Offers are available while stocks last.

With more than half of our annual spend dedicated to maintenance, ‘repair, rework, refit, rewire’ has always been Sea Rescue’s mantra.

In fact, as we speak, Spirit of Richards Bay, the largest boat in the fleet, is getting her bottom scraped and her engines redone. It’s a rather extreme makeover that’s taking a good four months, and is proving to be quite costly.

Unlike the repairs undertaken by our friends up in Uganda who run the National Lake Rescue Institute. Their rescue boats have the same wooden design as the vessels the locals use on Lake Victoria; they have a very deep V-shape and sit quite high on the water.

At a recent boat launch, they put the craft in the water only to discover that the engine was mounted a little too high and didn’t even reach the water. Within minutes, ten of the local chaps whipped out their pangas and got to work hacking the wooden transom to drop it down a bit before going merrily on their way.

Then there’s another amusing story.

When a visiting crew instructor (on loan from the Swedish sea rescue service) became concerned that the very high sides of the rescue boat might hamper a rescue operation, he threw himself into the water to test the ‘man-overboard’ procedure. He wanted to

gauge the crew’s ability to get him back safely aboard. His eager recruits duly followed suit, abandoning ship and joining him in the water.

The boat was left, still on course, but now totally unmanned.

But it was an honest mistake. Two of our coxswains, Graeme Harding (Station 12) and Sean Serfontein (Station 5) were recently invited to attend a course at the RNLI in the UK. It’s quite an experience to see their training facilities, which include a hi-tech indoor pool where they practise boat capsizes, complete with simulated thunderstorms and waves.

Our boys held their own and did admirably on the search missions out in the ocean, but the day their instructor gave the hand signal for man-overboard drills, Graeme hurled himself into the icy waters much to the horror of their crew. It seems that it’s only in Africa that we are so brave – the English apparently prefer to throw plastic dummies overboard during drills.

Our rescuers really are top rate. Brave, strong, highly skilled men and women, most of whom have been with us for more than 10 years and who are as passionate about NSRI as the day they first joined.

Our donors are also top rate. Generous, loyal, caring men and women, many of whom have been donating to us for more than 10 years.

We use this magazine to keep you informed about our projects, our successes and our most urgent needs. Thank you so much for your support. We couldn’t do it without you.

IAN WIENBURG, CEO

NSRI Head Office: 1 Glengariff Road, Three Anchor Bay, Cape Town, 8001 / PO Box 154, Green Point, 8051 Tel: +2721 434-4011 Fax: +2721 434-1661 Email: nsri-hq@iafrica.com

OUR REGIONAL OFFICES DURBAN: Durban Rescue Base, Small Craft Basin, Point Waterfront, Durban / PO Box 38446, Point, 4069 Tel: +2731 332-9772 Fax: +2731 332-9773 Email: nsri-kzn@iafrica.com

ON OUR COVER Wayne Bergstrom attends a reunion with the crew from Station 12 (Knysna) after they rescued him.

Photograph: Liza Wigley

PORT ELIZABETH: 216 Cape Road, Mill Park, Port Elizabeth, 6001 / PO Box 7909, Newton Park, Port Elizabeth, 6055 Tel: +2741 374-8315 Fax: +2741 374-8316 Email: nsri-pe@iafrica.com GAUTENG: Bouhof, 31 Robin Hood Road, Robindale, Randburg, 2194 / PO Box 3432, Pinegowrie, 2123 Tel: +2711 888-5451 Fax: +2711 888-5458 Email: nsri-elane@iafrica.com

Readers’ letters

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE

WE INVITE YOU TO AIR YOUR VIEWS, STATE YOUR CONCERNS OR SHARE YOUR COMMENTS WITH FELLOW MEMBERS OF THE SEA RESCUE FAMILY

WINNING LETTER Congratulations to Graham Linscott. Your case of Slaley Wines is on its way to you. We enjoyed your description of the bar-room antics that accompanied the Barrel Race, as well as your appreciation for Sea Rescue volunteers.

Illustration: darryl edwardes

A barrel of fun The National Sea Rescue Institute Barrel Race held recently at Point Yacht Club was not quite what I’d first imagined. They were not racing across the yacht basin in craft constructed from barrels; it was more like a conventional regatta and sail-past-cum-fishing competition. The barrel part of it came afterwards with a raffle draw in the clubhouse from a rotating barrel – this literally went on for hours, and hundreds of prizes were handed out.

Double-quick timing We live on the Keurbooms River, and in February, friends arrived from George to spend a few days with us so we could show them around Plett.

The day after they arrived, we decided to take an early morning walk across the dunes down to the beach. We’d been walking for about 10 minutes along the beach when my friend Neel began experiencing chronic chest pain. We headed back towards the dune path but at the base of the dune, he realised he couldn’t make it up due to extreme weakness. Some 10 years earlier, he had a triple bypass operation and he automatically assumed it was his heart.

I left him and his wife on the beach and ran home to get help. My first call was to Andrew Scott, who heads up the Mountain Club section of the National Search and Rescue Organisation, and suggested a helicopter airlift. Andrew said it would take hours to get a helicopter airborne, and he’d contact Ray Farnham of NSRI instead. Within seconds, I received a phone call from Ray asking me for the details, and within minutes of

It was all great fun and great pitchers of beer were passed around the clubhouse. I met up with a statuesque blonde lady of my acquaintance, who in turn met up with a tiny little lady whom she went to school with. They had last seen each other 15 years ago.

I listened to alarming tales from their schooldays in Hillcrest – how they used to play chicken with the milk delivery cart, and how after school, they would return home by sliding down the stormwater drains instead of using the pavement.

Then both of them started blubbing on my shoulder, right there in Charlie’s Bar. I think they were, as Private Eye magazine puts it, ‘tired and emotional’. (Mind you, I also get tears in my eyes when I meet up with past friends. Not so much out of emotion as the prospect of getting into another scrape or, at the very least, a hangover.)

Every other day we read of the NSRI rescuing some craft in distress or bathers swept out to sea. This voluntary service is a worthy cause that deserves every cent raised. It was gratifying to see the level of support – the PYC clubhouse was simply packed.

One of the rescue boats was tied up in the marina. Having been out with the NSRI on occasion on training exercises, she brought back memories of exhilaration mingled with alarm and extreme discomfort as we crashed through the swells. And this was just the training.

Here’s to the NSRI! Graham Linscott

his phone call, I heard the NSRI siren sounding from town. I ran back to the beach. As I reached the top of the dunes, I saw two boats speeding towards the scene and on cresting the dune, I saw there was already a team on the beach attending to my friend.

They took him and his wife to the NSRI base in the rescue boat. When I arrived at the base, I found Neel on a bed being attended to by a local doctor. After several tests, they transferred him to the Medi-Clinic in town. It was later concluded that it had not been a heart problem, but a chronic muscle spasm and he was discharged just after 16h30.

We would all like to thank Andrew Scott and Ray Farnham sincerely for their assistance in the rescue effort, together with each and every member of the team for their incredibly speedy reaction and their professional manner. We Plettonians can be very proud of this wonderful voluntary organisation, knowing that we’re always in such good and capable hands in times of an emergency.

Lew Leathwhite

Sea Rescue > winter 2009

05

SUBSCRIBE & win Training day I joined the NSRI as a trainee at Station 20 (Shelly Beach) in January this year, and a weekend’s training was on offer to both trainees and qualified members at Station 19 (Richards Bay). Crew from Durban, Richards Bay, Shelly Beach, Port Edward and Hartbeespoort Dam stations were involved.

I didn’t know what lay ahead, and was unnerved to say the least. But my fears were soon put to rest on the Friday evening and my experience of the following two days. Everyone was willing to help – from making coffee to helicopter hoisting, from the logistics and planning to lastminute ‘Plan B’ scenarios.

I returned home on the Sunday after the training exercise, filled with waves of new knowledge, a boat full of friends and an ocean of respect for all my fellow crew members – both trainees and qualified.

Thank you to everyone involved with that weekend. I look forward to many years of service and friendship with the NSRI and its members.

Anthony Matthews, Station 20 (Shelly Beach)

CUBS’ DAY OUT at Simon’s town base Thank you so much Darren, Cobus and Charles for the great outing we had. The weather was perfect and the Cubs were able to learn about the important role you play in sea rescue.

I was most impressed with Charles from WaterWise and plan to ask

him to visit again and to do another demonstration, as some Cubs were unable to attend. He was patient and allowed each Cub to practise the correct CPR method on the doll. He also gave each Cub a mouthpiece, booklet and ruler that will go in their Cub bags and first-aid kits.

Once again thanks for a great day!

Cara Cato

Pedal2Peak Project We were recently contacted by Marc Bosch, who we came to know in England a few years ago. Marc told us about his plan to cycle to Kilimanjaro and back with Jonathan Hamilton-Browne in aid of the NSRI. He was very enthusiastic about this project and so are we. We can only admire their plan the same way we admire your work.

Living in Switzerland, a country with no direct access to the sea, we’re not aware of the daily problems and the dangerous conditions you work in, often putting your own lives at risk in order to save others. We would like to thank you for everything you and your volunteers do. We hope that Pedal2Peak proves successful, and that it motivates people to support your organsation by donating money, thereby enabling you to continue your important work. Our very best wishes go to all of you, the team and the volunteers.

André and Gerda Schmid, Switzerland

Subscribe to Sea Rescue magazine and stand a chance to win!

The first six subscribers will each receive a boardtag

Sea Rescue magazine showcases the rescue efforts of 880 volunteers at 30 bases around the coast and on three inland dams. Features include heroic stories of rescues, information on marine curiosities and essential water-safety tips for all water users. Sea Rescue also celebrates the donors and sponsors who make the rescues possible. By supporting Sea Rescue magazine with an annual subscription of R100, you are helping the NSRI to save lives on South African waters. Please post your form to NSRI Head Office, PO Box 154, Green Point 8051, your nearest regional office, or fax it to (021) 434-1661.

I would like to subscribe to Sea Rescue magazine If you lose your windsurfer or kiteboarding equipment while out on the water, the NSRI could spend hours searching for you. To avoid this, put your name and contact number on your board. That way, the NSRI can call and check if you’re safe and they can return your board as well. The NSRI endorses the use of boardtags that can be securely attached to almost any watersports equipment, clearly identifying the owner. For more information and distributors, visit www.boardtag.com.

Full name...............................................................................................................................................

Postal address....................................................................................................................................... .............................................................................................................................................................

Postal code..................................... Telephone (

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Please find cheque/postal order for R100 Debit my Visa/Master card to the amount of R100 Cardholder’s name . ..............................................................................................................................

Card number Expiry date of card CVV number (at the back of the card)

Signature . ...................................................

For sale Small Vessel Seamanship Guide

THANK YOU, KNYSNA I’m the skier you helped recently. I’ve been a surf lifesaver since I left school, and have spent many a weekend on the beach. I’ve done the PE to EL Surf Ski Challenge seven times, and the NSRI was always at our side.

In recent years, I started an electrical business, so I didn’t have the time to do all the training required for the PE to EL Surf Ski Challenge, so my brother introduced me to diving. I became the chairman of Wildside Divers and recently of the Dive Fest, the main beneficiary of which is the NSRI. From my experience of being involved in volunteer organisations, I have some idea of the amount of personal time and effort your team puts in, to be on call 24 hours for the benefit of your fellow human beings. It takes a special type of person.

This is the first time I have been rescued by the NSRI. There are no words to describe how grateful I am that there are guys like you in this world. I was in a huge amount of pain, as you gathered; all I wanted was to close my eyes but the big guy with the pointed beard (Andrew) would not let me. Thank you for the care you showed my family, and the visits to the hospital. There are no words to say how grateful I am and I thank you humbly for being such stunning people. (See ‘Rescue Reports, page 39) Barry Masters

R60

EXCL. PO

STAGE

The 2007 Skippers’ Guide for Small Vessel Seamanship, sponsored by Sanlam, covers the syllabus for the SAMSA Small Vessel Certificate of Competence. Suitable for the National Local Waters and Coastal Skippers’ exam.

R60 incl. VAT.

A Guide to Safe Inland Boating With FNB sponsorship, NSRI has produced a guide to inland boating which covers all aspects of the proposed national inland boating regulations. R30 incl. VAT. (plus R10,50 for postage).

WaterWise DVD

STATION 6 (PE) TO THE RESCUE WHEN JELLY BABY RUNS AGROUND On behalf of myself, my crew, and the J27 Partnership owners, we’d like to send our most sincere thanks to you and your team. The manner in which your team conducted themselves, with Bruce on land and Jonothan at sea was commendable.

Jonothan tried several times to come to our aid before we got into the surf line, but to no avail. As we were surfing in towards the beach Jonothan still put two swimmers in, to make sure that had I lost any crew overboard while attempting to beach, they would be on hand to assist. No sooner had the boat become grounded, they were there to help get my crew off. Not long after the shore crew arrived, with Bruce coordinating until Ian arrived, a plan was formulated to try and re-float Jelly Baby. Ropes were brought from the station, another rubber duck appeared out of nowhere, and more people arrived. With great coordination and coxswain skill, Jelly Baby slid off the beach under tow effortlessly. She was returned to her own mooring with her dignity intact. (See ‘Rescue Reports, page 40) Thank you very much, everybody.

Kerry, Dion, Sean, Julian, Jess and Thomas

R20 Each

Perfect for school groups, this DVD gives loads of tips on water safety with an invitation to book a CPR demonstration. There is no copyright, so it can be shared. R20. Call Theresa Medicine on (021) 434-4011 or Linda Els on 083 743 7203.

RADIO Distress Procedure Instructions The ICASA Marine Radio Regulations require that all vessels fitted with VHF and/or HF (SSB) transceivers must have a Distress Procedures Instruction Card on board. These are available from NSRI Durban. Cheques can be posted to NSRI Durban, PO Box 38446, Point 4069. The A5 VHF is R30 (incl. postage) and the A4 SSB and VHF is R35 (incl. postage).

Thanks to Plettenberg Bay A friend and I went paddling with our surfskis last Sunday afternoon. When trying to enter the Keurbooms mouth through the beach break, a big wave washed me off my ski. I tried to swim to the sand bank that has formed in the mouth but got washed off several times, with the outgoing tide being too strong. The life jacket I was wearing didn’t help with the swimming but definitely kept me afloat.

I just want to say thank you to the NSRI of Plettenberg Bay and especially to Lorent and the crew that pulled me out of the surf. Without their quick response, my Sunday could have turned out very differently.

The work you guys do is priceless to the people who enjoy the waters in and around Plettenberg Bay. Please convey this message to the rest of the team at Plett NSRI. Nico Knoetze

sea rescue – it’s what we do dvd

R20 Each

From dramatic footage of crew launching, interviews with rescuers and their families and ending with a re-enactment of a real rescue, this DVD tells a rather humble and personal story of dedication and heroism. It’s full of action too. R20 (incl. postage and packaging).

Sea Rescue > winter 2009

07

letters at your service I’d just like you to know how brilliant I think you are about making your subscribers feel appreciated. I received a call recently from one of your competition team asking if I’d increase my monthly contribution. It was delightful to have a geniune communication with a person who conveyed a feel-good factor and, of course, succeeded (sadly only minimally) in getting me to increase my monthly donation! With best wishes and huge thanks for all you do. (Read more about our sales staff on page 32.)

Caroline Goodden

Memory Lane The letter from Mr Hannabus in your Autumn 2009 issue has stirred memories of two vastly different experiences in my life, many years apart. The first was when our family went on holiday for the first time from Bonnie Vale (as it was then spelt) to the seaside at Struisbaai, and paid a visit to the lighthouse at Cape Agulhas. It was in the summer of 1923 or 1924 and, according to what I was told later, I was carried to the top of this lighthouse by the keeper himself. I was three or four years old at the time.

Move forward now some three score years or so to 8 July 1980.

I was by then South Africa’s ambassador in Greece and attending a performance of a classic Greek comedy in the ancient open-air theatre of Epidaurus, about three hours by car from Athens. It ended shortly before midnight, and on our way back, we stopped at one of the many roadside tavernas for a meal of lamb straight from the spit. While we were there, the new day dawned and I turned 60, duly celebrated by my

wife, myself and our son James and the friend who was with him on a short holiday from South Africa – a certain Ian Wienburg!

I have been an NSRI supporter for many years, and thoroughly enjoy your excellent magazine.

John Selfe

Write to us and WIN! The writer of the winning letter published in the Summer 2009 issue of Sea Rescue will win a case of Slaley Wines worth R1 000.

This classic range is the flagship of Slaley Wines and consists of two bottles each of Slaley Chardonnay 2005, Slaley Shiraz 2003, Slaley Merlot 2002, Slaley Merlot blend 2003, Slaley Pinotage 2003 and Reserve NLH 2006. For more information on the complete range, visit www.slaley. co.za or tel (021) 865-2123, or find us at Slaley on the corner of the R44 and Kromme Rhee Road in Stellenbosch.

Send your letters to Sea Rescue magazine, PO Box 15054, Vlaeberg, 8018.

thanks from the cadiz freedom SWIM participants I’m sending this as appreciation for the help your crew lent Sue and me on our recent swim. We are relative newcomers to the sport of sea swimming and were training for the Cadiz Freedom Swim from Robben Island to Blouberg. We imagined being fit enough for the event was enough, but the cold water was a real challenge.

Coupled with the somewhat unsettled sea, we both suddenly felt rather apprehensive on our second round of the swim. Individually, we went to the two boats closest to us, before we were brought ashore together.

08 Sea Rescue > winter 2009

... and organisers A sincere thank you, Pat and Rhine, for your part in making the Cadiz Freedom Swim 2009 a success. Your professionalism and experience was invaluable.

I highly appreciate and greatly value your generous and selfless allocation of time and energy to this event. We couldn’t have done it without you and your team.

Thank you for making it easy to work with you, and for effectively handling all aspects of safety on the ocean. The swimmers had nothing but high praise for you and your team. The fog situation on the Sunday of the swim was not an easy one to handle and your calm professionalism and sage advice were invaluable.

In the end, the correct decisions were made thanks to you and the NSRI. We look forward to working with you again.

Craig Doonan, Event Director

photograph: nick muzik

We will always remember the concern and quiet help that everyone gave us and in particular Collette, who tried her best to ‘wrap’ herself around both of us at the same time to get us warm. (That much I can remember.)

We downscaled our individual Robben Island swim aspirations to a four-man team relay event on the day.

Please forward this to those who helped us, and we hope to see you again soon, but maybe under different circumstances, possibly even at your pub on Friday evenings!

Michael Melck

CHILDREN & WATER SAFETY

When things

go wrong It was a warm, perfect Cape Town day when Paul Ingpen decided to take his daughter for a paddle at their favourite beach. It’s a day he will not forget in a hurry. Here, in his own words, he tells us his story I always thought of myself as a bullet-proof dad, especially in the water. I’ve done competitive longdistance swimming, I paddle, I do triathlons, I surf. I’ve been involved in some way with the ocean for as long as I can remember. My kids have come out with me on the water many times; from when they were still in nappies.

I didn’t take them out far when they were so little, we’d paddle close to shore, and always in safe conditions, and obviously with life jackets. Both my daughters love the water as much as I do – they’re aged three and five (although my youngest will argue she is practically four).

It’s become a bit of a regular thing with us to paddle from Bakoven. We live a two-minute walk away, and from our house, we can see the sea conditions easily enough to make spontaneous decisions to take the kayak down and paddle around to Bali Bay and collect shells. We also make it a habit to collect any bits of rubbish or plastic we see floating in the sea.

So, a few months ago, when I saw a school of dolphins in the bay, I thought, ‘What a bonus.’ I grabbed the kayak, and my youngest daughter, Eva, and we sped down to the beach for a paddle and to enjoy the dolphins – in perfect conditions, on a truly awesome day.

We bumped into some friends on Bakoven’s little beach, and as soon as their three-year-old daughter heard what we were up to, she asked if she could join us on what could only have sounded like a real adventure to her. I was happy to take her, but explained that I didn’t have a spare life jacket, and that I would sit with her in-between my legs.

I had done this so many times before, that I believed – and so did her parents – that we would be safe as houses on our jaunt in the bay. My own daughter had a life jacket on.

10 Sea Rescue > winter 2009

PHOTOGRAPHS KINDLY DONATED BY Anthony Allen

We launched from the beach, and the girls were really excited.

We got to within about 10m of the school, and watched them cruise past – it was very special.

We then paddled to what has become known to my daughters as Secret Beach, on the other side of Bali Bay, where we spent nearly an hour collecting shells.

I realised that the folks on the beach would be getting a bit worried about their daughter as we’d been gone a while, so I gathered up the girls and we headed back. To save some time, I paddled across the bay, rather than keeping close to shore, which is what I normally would do.

So we were in deep water; water that is saturated with kelp even on those days when the surface of the sea is glassy and flat.

We were about halfway across, when we saw a plastic shopping bag floating in the water. Normally when we collect litter, my daughters and I instintively balance each other out, and know automatically how to keep the kayak stable. It never occurred to me that our little guest had never been on one before, let alone collected rubbish from the sea.

It happened very quickly. I leant over, and so did she – Eva, my daughter, was on the other side of the kayak – and the next thing, we had overturned and were all in the water.

My friend’s child began to sink, and I ducked under the water to grab her around her waist with my whole arm. At that moment, my sunglasses came off my face, and I saw them sinking away into the darkness of the kelp. I realised then the danger of the situation we were in.

I surfaced, and all I could hear was Eva screaming behind me. She was secure in her lifejacket, but hysterical with fear.

The kayak was upside down, I was holding onto my friends’ child and Eva was clambering onto my back. I’ll never forget the look on my daughter’s face when I had to push her away because I knew I had to hang on to the little one because I was her life jacket. The kayak was upside down, and had taken on a bit of water when it flipped, so it was kind of stuck on the water, in a vacuum, and I couldn’t get it back up with only one free arm and no footing.

I managed to get my daughter and the little girl onto the upturned kayak. I held onto each child by the foot to secure them, and then by treading water, tried to get us back to shore.

By this time, the children’s screams had drawn attention from the beach, and the child’s father had come running to the rocks to see what was happening. I found out later someone had shouted that there were some people in trouble on the water.

I managed to get to the flat rocks where my friend met us. Without hesitation, he reached for his frantic child and held her in his arms after he had watched – terrified – how events were unfolding from the beach.

A few seconds later I heard the ‘putt putt putt’ of the Station 2 rescue craft manned by Howard Bell coming towards us – a very welcome

Opposite page: Paul with his daughters Mila and Eva at Bakoven Above: Bringing the kayak in just below Station 2 (Bakoven) sight. We righted the kayak, and I paddled with Eva back to the safety of the beach.

Later at home, the full enormity of that morning’s events hit me. I kept seeing my Oakley sunglasses sink into the kelp, and the thought that

WHEN my sunglasses SANK away into the dark kelp, I REALISED THE DANGER OF THE SITUATION WE WERE IN it could so easily have been our friends’ child made me literally feel ill.

I had all the ‘what ifs’ going on inside my head, when Eva came to sit with me. She said, ‘Daddy, thank you for taking us out today to see the dolphins.’ Her intuitive need to comfort me translated into these simple words of thanks. I’ll not easily forget that moment.

Neither will I forget the SMS I received, dictated by my friends’ child to thank me for keeping her safe and for taking her to see the dolphins.

When you’re out on the water, you are exposed to the elements, and anything can happen. I am not a bullet-proof dad, and I learnt that day to stay humble as far as the sea is concerned. Never venture out without life jackets for everyone, and never forget you are very insignificant against the elements.

Paul Ingpen is the Director of Strategy and Marketing at our publishers, and has lent his strategic services to Sea Rescue magazine free of charge.

We thank him for his insights and his willingness to openly share his story.

WATER SAFETY Paul Ingpen’s quick reflexes, his physical strength and presence of mind to get the kids on the kayak, and the fact that his daughter was wearing a life jacket meant that disaster was averted that day. But it was an expensive lesson that both he and his friends will remember forever.

Out on the water, you are at the mercy of the elements. No matter how calm the conditions, and no matter how confident you feel, an incident like this one can happen very easily.

Lifejackets are like seatbelts. They are only of use if you wear them, and no-one should be on the water without one. Always make sure that the life jacket is appropriate for the age and size of the wearer, and that it is fastened correctly. Other safety devices include: flares and signalling devices, a cellphone in a waterproof covering and quick access to NSRI emergency numbers.

Sea Rescue > winter 2009

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news and events FAREWELL AND THANKS TO SAFMARINE It is with a heavy heart that we bid farewell to Safmarine as one of our Platinum Partners. Safmarine is our oldest sponsor and we have formed good friendships over the years.

Our Platinum Partnership programme is aimed at 10 big corporates who understand that, although we have 880 volunteers in service, there is a requirement for a head office function. Our head office staff of 15 are responsible for administration, procurement and fundraising. It is an essential service but a service that most private donors prefer not to fund. That’s where our Platinum Partners come in. The Platinum Partnership programme funds the cost of the head office – so that every cent of any other donation goes directly towards fuel, maintenance on our fleet and medical supplies.

But with the bad news that Safmarine is leaving us, there is some good news too – we are proud and honoured to welcome ABSA and Discovery to our Platinum Partnership programme. Both companies have committed to join their peers in pledging R100 000 per annum to offset our head office costs. Their other sponsorships of boats (and Rescue Runners) are over and above this commitment. Welcome to you both, we look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship.

Goodbye to Safmarine, and thank you for the many years that you supported us.

From left: Round Table 32 chairman Clive Parsons hands over a handsome cheque to Station 15 Statcom Dawie Zwiegelaar Buffalo Rally bikers support SEA RESCUE For the past four years, Round Table 32 in Mossel Bay has donated the proceeds of their cash bar at the Buffalo Rally to the NSRI to show their appreciation for the medical teams who are on stand-by for the weekend.

This year we received R40 000. Thank you – we are most grateful. ongoing supporter Sun International is a longstanding supporter of NSRI and gives all volunteers staff rates at their holiday resorts. The Port Edward 7.3m rescue craft has been christened Wild Coast Rescuer in their honour.

NSRI’S HEAD OFFICE is funded through our faithful Platinum Sponsors. all OTHER donations can therefore BE SET ASIDE FOR rescue work.

platinum PARTNERSHIPS

GOLD PARTNERSHIPS • De Beers Marine • Premier Fishing SA (Pty) Ltd • viking fishing ltd • Lusitania Marketing Services • macs maritime shipping • Marine Products • Oceana Group • Svitzer-Wijsmuller • sa five engineering

12 Sea Rescue > winter 2009

MEN IN TIGHTS AND ALL THAT JAZZ Sedgefield Lions Club is very supportive of Station 23 (Wilderness), and when they arranged to stage a Melodrama in aid of a children’s charity, they roped in a few of our crew members – some with more enthusiasm than others. An amount of R42 500 was raised for the children and R7 500 went to the NSRI. Those of you who have watched our NSRI DVD know Hennie Niehaus as a dairy farmer and the volunteer station commander at Wilderness, one of our most dangerous stretches of coastline. Hennie also runs our volunteer surf training school where rescuers are expected to flip boats in rough waves in order to learn how to recover.

The fact that such a capable and qualified person is prepared to dress up in a pink tutu is testimony to his kind heart, humbleness and willingness to do anything to help his community. Hennie jy is ’n wonderlike mens. Dankie Wilderness span, ons het die skouspel geniet.

Rotary Onwards LAUNCHED It was a proud moment for both Rotarians and Sea Rescue when the 7.3m rescue craft Rotary Onwards was officially launched from Station 34 (Yzerfontein) on Saturday, 23 May 2009.

The 14th Annual Rotary Wine Auction and dinner will be taking place on 15 October this year at the prestigious Table Bay Hotel. The Rotary Clubs of Table Bay and Newlands have once again agreed that NSRI will be a beneficiary – the planned project is a rescue craft for Station 18 (Melkbosstrand). Thank you to our main sponsor GrandWest CSI, and to all the wine estates who will be supporting us with donations of their special wines. For more information – from ticket sales to donations of wine and prizes – please contact Krista French on (021) 434-4011.

From left: Heinz Schipper, one of our loyal supporters; Hennie Nell (coxswain) and Pieter Rossouw

PHOTOGRAPH KINDLY DONATED BY brinKimages.com

From left: The dancing ‘ladies’ are Garth Dominy, Hennie Niehaus, Alto Hoffman, Jaco de Jongh and Gareth Dale. In unform are Gareth Dale, Ian Gerber, Alto Hoffman, Jaco de Jongh and Garth Dominy

In for a penny, in for a pound When Station 14 (Plettenberg Bay) called Airlink last year to ask if they would like to sponsor a hole at their annual golf day, they got more than they bargained for – Airlink offered to sponsor a brand new 4.2m rescue boat.

Left to right: Marc Rodgers (coxswain), Emerald Burg (from Rotary in USA), Michaela Foster (daughter of Airlink’s Roger Foster) and Brad Thomas (coxswain) NINTH CAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW The 2009 Cape Town International Boat Show is getting ready to set sail for yet another premier event, offering visitors a full spectrum of products needed in and on the water. The event runs from 24-27 September at the Cape Town International Conference Centre and the V&A Waterfront, which are now connected with the newly launched V&A Waterfront canal charter.

Last year’s show proved to be an outstanding success with a record number of visitors. Organisers have announced that this year’s show is once again set to bring visitors the very best in boating, yachting, water sports and leisure. Whether you are a first-time sailor in a rubber dinghy or you have sold up everything and are planning to sail into the sunset, the Cape Town International Boat Show has something for you.

For more information on the event, call (021) 685 0845, email jm@impactexpo.co.za or visit www.capetownboatshow.com.

Sea Rescue > winter 2009

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before

after

OUR THANKS TO ALL WHO CONTRIBUTED TO REVAMPing PORT ALFRED’s BASE BUILDING The Station 11 (Port Alfred) rescue base was recently upgraded in order to address future requirements and streamline operations. The project was designed and managed pro bono by Stapleton Associates, an architectural firm in Port Alfred that supports the station.

A special thanks to the following local suppliers for making this project possible by donating materials and or services: Timbahouse for the construction of the building; Viaplan Consulting engineers offered their services free of charge; Inso Aluminium supplied the exterior fenestration at a reduced cost; Sunshine Joinery donated all the internal doors and ironmongery; Multi Security donated the security installation and their security services; Kay Jay’s Brickworks and Makana Brick donated all the bricks; and FrameWorks and Sign Co. supplied the signage at a reduced cost.

Coroma and Don T Doors supplied and installed the great boatshed doors at cost; D&A timbers supplied the building materials at a reduced cost; Mooifontein quarry supplied and delivered all the sand and stone free of charge; ABE construction chemicals donated the epoxy floor finishes; Dulux donated a percentage of the paint; Kowie Timber Products donated all the cabinets, cupboards and shelving; PA Brickworks supplied the steel and floor materials at a reduced cost; Watertite guttering supplied the aluminium gutters; and IHire supplied various construction equipment at a reduced cost.

Young Women Self-fund EIA project for kommetjie base The NSRI hopes to build a rescue base on Van Imhoff Way in Kommetjie and Council now requires that an environmental impact assessment (EIA) must be undertaken by an independent consultant. The proposal is to demolish the existing public toilets and build a boathouse, as well as construct new toilet facilities for public use.

Chand Environmental, a small company, with a staff complement of eight hardworking women, took up the challenge as a pro bono project. Team leader Emily Herschell (below right) explains: ‘Living in Cape Town, the sea has become an integral part of my lifestyle. I was first introduced to the project by Peter Bacon, but have always admired the essential work undertaken by the volunteers. Having an extremely healthy respect for the sea, I take my hat off to each and every brave volunteer who contributes their time to saving people’s lives, whilst undeniably putting their own lives on the line.’

Owner, Sadia Chand (below left) adds, ‘Although our social responsibility generally involves projects relating to children, the call for assistance from the NSRI strongly resonated with us as a company. On a personal level, I have a fear of deep water and therefore an ever-present respect for the sea. The volunteers of the NSRI are heroes in my eyes, as they brave the waters to assist those in need, and save lives.’

‘We would otherwise be hard-pressed to raise sponsorship for an EIA project,’ says Ian Wienburg, NSRI CEO. ‘It’s difficult enough for us to find unpaid volunteers and source donated funds for bricks and mortar without the additional burden of an EIA. We do wish our government would make life a tad easier for us. So thank you to the wonderful ladies of Chand. We are very, very grateful.’

Chand Environmental Consultants, PO Box 238, Plumstead, 7801, tel: (021) 762 3050, fax: (021) 762 3240, www.chand.co.za.

GIFTS GALORE FOR V&A WATERFRONT BASE Station 3 (Table Bay) received a donation in kind in the form of a Karcher high-pressure system worth about R10 000 from ITS Integration. The station also recently received a donation of R10 000 from the Royal Cape Yacht Club, a loyal supporter, as well as Crocs™ boating shoes valued at R37 000.

All monetary donations we receive are used for fuel and equipment for rescues, but from time to time, our volunteers are blessed with special treats. If you would like to make a contribution, there are a number of ways to do so: what about delivering a box of Bar One chocolates (or other long-life energy bars) to your local station? Or, donate a coffee machine, urn or pump flask for that much-needed hot drink for shore and rescue crew during a rescue operation. Crockery for the occasional function or money towards year-end awards ceremonies are also welcome. Rescue bases also appreciate having a team of ‘loving moms’ who make tea or wash up when there is a function or a long search-and-rescue mission.

Give us a call to see how you can help.

after

News & events Mossel Bay Entrepreneurs Club together Every year we receive a generous donation from the Independent Entrepreneurs Association in Mossel Bay. This year, Dawie Zweigelaar received a cheque for R13 000 from Joubert Coetzee of Mossel Bay Municipality.

Thank you Engen for ongoing fuel support Engen has renewed its fuel sponsorship to Sea Rescue (with an increase of 10 percent this year). Last year the grant purchased 56 000 litres of diesel, petrol and engine oil for craft and 4x4 vehicles. Engen has contributed more than R9 million in fuel to the organisation in 18 years.

home base for Witsand The official opening of the new NSRI rescue base at Witsand on Saturday 25 April was slightly delayed when crew were called out to assist a fisherman who had cut himself badly. NSRI medics attended to his injury before he was taken by ambulance for further treatment.

The function was attended by NSRI dignitaries and members of the community, whose contributions ensured the successful completion of the base. Our thanks to all our donors (some of whom wish to remain anonymous), the Hessequa Municipality, as well as Witsand residents and visitors. Special thanks to Marius Pheiffer of Witsand Alarms, who not only donated the alarm system to the base, but also funded the building of the interior deck to facilitate storage and crew training. Thanks also to Dominee Pierre Jordan of Witsand who blessed the station’s craft.

Since its humble beginnings – functioning from Marius Heyneman’s garage – the station has been busy, especially during the last floods when conditions at the mouth of the Breede River deteriorated.

starting young

She sells sea shells on the sea-shore Glen Bosman (of Agter Elke Man fame), has a home in St Francis Bay and recently arrived at our rescue base with his wife, young son and two other youngsters to hand over this little letter and R235.

While they were on holiday in Mozambique, the children had walked along the beach and collected shells. Upon their return they sold the shells to friends to raise money for the NSRI. We were really touched by their gesture and the fact that such young children (between six and nine years old) could have such a selfless attitude towards others.

Life’s savings A little while ago Patrick van Eyssen received a call from Richard Goldstein and his son, Tristan, aged three. Richard explained that his son wanted to give all the money from his piggy bank to Station 3 (Table Bay). Pat says, ‘This was very touching. As a matter of interest, his father was rescued off East London several years ago. He was sailing from Durban to Cape Town when the wind died and they were taking a short cut between some rocks and a cliff when the shear pin on the engine broke and they called for rescue.’ Tristan was taken on a short boat ride for his generosity.

Victoria Lake St Stithians College Grade 9 pupils Greg Buchanan and Rory McConnachie adopted Station 27 (Victoria Lake) NSRI in Germiston to do community work.

JOIN US AT THE JET SHOP NSRI adventure day ... on 3 October at the Koeberg Nature Reserve. Bookings open on 1 August. For more information, call Rhine Barnes on 082 990 5958.

Sea Rescue > winter 2009

15

in memory of the whales

Photographer Chad Chapman captured the sadness of a mass stranding of 55 false killer whales at Kommetjie on Saturday 30 May when two thousand Capetonians, one hundred NSRI volunteers, Marine and Coastal Management, the SA Navy, the SAPS, Table Mountain National Parks, Disaster Management, the Dolphin Action Group, University of Pretoria’s Mammal Research Institute and SPCA tried in vain to save their lives.

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Obtain your National Certificate of Competence as a Power Driven Vessel Skipper for the categories B, C, E and R The South African Institute for Skippers is the largest training establishment for skippers in South Africa. We have been appointed as an Authorized Agency by the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) and we pride ourselves in our professionalism.

Courses offered: • Cat R (inland waters) • Cat E (1 nautical mile) • Cat C (15 nautical miles) • Cat B upgrade (40 nautical miles with night rating) • Conversion to over 9 metres We conduct annual boat surveys (COF) Suppliers of Safety Equipment Contact us on (021) 975-3281 / info@saskipper.com / www.saskipper.com

NSRI Annual General Meeting When: Thursday 27 August 2009 Time: 17h30 for 18h00 Venue: Ritz Hotel Enquiries: Stephanie (021) 434-4011

dawson’s Skipper Training Paul 082 488 0077 Wendy 082 784 4155 Tel 031 702 5495 Fax 086 532 7269

Paul & Wendy www.dawsonsst.co.za

paul@dawsonsst.co.za wendy@dawsonsst.co.za

ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES

Do you want your small business to reach over 40 000 readers? To advertise in our Classifieds section, contact Jean Ramsay on (021) 557-3878 or 079 508 0428.

teas and tours

NATIONAL BEQUEST OFFICER MARGARET MCCULLOCH spent some time with the donors, bequestors and supporters who form the backbone of the lifeboat circle

PHOTOGRAPH kindly donated by chad chapman

WESTERN CAPE A hot end-of-summer’s day saw a jolly crowd of Station 10 (Simon’s Town) supporters, listening intently to our station commander’s talk, asking technical questions of the crew around our vessels and mobiles, and then enjoying a jolly good and prettily presented tea.

SOUTHERN CAPE Our volunteer shorelink committee who support the rescue base are such a pleasure to work with.

Sea Rescue benefits from dedicated, educated and understanding donors, volunteer collection boat operatives, coastwatchers, and often a few new bequestors.

Bev and I undertook a tour of our Southern Cape rescue stations, popping into supporter’s homes for a quick visit, and entertaining our members at social events held at their closest rescue station. We were able to acknowledge thoughtful bequestors with their Lifeboat Circle lapel badges and certificates.

SALUTE TO KOMMETJIE SUPPORTERS More recently we arranged a coffee morning on behalf of Station 26 (Kommetjie), a ‘Cinderella station’ that performs their lifesaving operations out of a ‘pilchard tin’ – a single garage that serves as a boatshed, crew training room, and operations room – which is a good few hundred metres from the slipway.

Despite these impossible surroundings, brave and talented crew pull off all kinds of amazing rescues – with not even a hot shower to douse the frozen Atlantic water from their bodies.

Knysna supporters await their sunset cruise

During the happy events of that coffee morning, the thought popped up that perhaps it was time to emulate our originator Pattie Price, and again start a letter-writing campaign to the local press. Station 26 has the funds to build their home, however, the wheels of beaurocracy grind slowly, and 12 years later, we still await the go-ahead to begin construction.

Thank you for the following donations received:

Guests at Wilderness base enjoyed sundowners and stories told by Torsten and Roger

In Memory Of • Captain and Mrs Eric Ebelthite • John Foster • Roy Pearce • Margaret April Wykeham Bentley • Tony Staplehurst • Captain Stefan Costa • Hans Herb • Reg Hopkins • Steven Wallace SPECIAL OCCASIONS • Brian Cantor • Harry Fuchs

Lifeboat Circle is the society for retired persons. For more information, contact Margaret McCulloch on 082 990 5976, or email nsri-marg@iafrica.com.

Station 14 held a Lifeboat honours morning to pay tribute to Ed who bequeathed the cost of a new boat to the station. From left: Derek, Marge, Ed and John

Station 26 (Kommetjie) supporters

I WILL. WILL YOU? I was a little taken aback when Margaret asked me if I would like to join the Lifeboat Circle. I am not yet 40, I have no plans to retire and my bank balance is nothing to write home about. But as we spoke, she mentioned the recent gift from an old fisherman in Kalk Bay who had left a legacy of R145 to NSRI when he passed away. I did some mental arithmetic and calculated that if each person who gets this magazine (42 500) left R145 in their will, we would have a collective pledge of R6 162 500. If everyone is able to leave a gift of R1 000, we would collectively pledge R42.5 million.

Name: Surname: Contact number:

Margaret encouraged me to ‘go public’ about my private decision to sign a codicil, and I would like to challenge every reader to do the same.

A codicil has been included in this magazine for your convenience. It is a private document for you to give to your lawyer. Fold it over when you ask the witnesses to sign, as they do not need to see the amount you decide on. Then send an email to Margaret nsri-marg@iafrica.com to tell her of your decision or return this coupon in the post, because we would like to thank you for your thoughfulness. Each of us can make a difference. Meriel Bartlett

Please 3 RELEVANT BOX:

o o o o

Please call me to discuss bequests I have taken up the challenge and signed a codicil Please can you come and speak to our club/group/society I have previously signed a codicil

!

real-life rescue

against all odds

WAYNE BERGSTROM WAS GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE THANKS TO HIS PHYSICAL AND MENTAL STRENGTH, AND THE DEDICATION AND TIRELESS EFFORTS OF NSRI VOLUNTEERS. BY ANDREW INGRAM As dawn broke over Knysna on Monday 30 March 2009, Wayne Bergstrom slipped the moorings of Blu 2, opened up the engines, and turned towards the famous Knysna Heads.

It was a beautiful morning. The estuary was glassy and the sky clear.

His wake sent waves to the shore as his holiday house, nestled on the East Head, disappeared from view.

Entering the Heads, Wayne noted with surprise that the sea was bigger than he had expected. He had seen it like this before, so nudging the throttles a little harder, he powered the 16-foot ski boat into the channel.

Once clear of the Heads, the sea was flat. With lines set, he trawled his lures, looking for warm water, hoping to get into some big fish. He powered past Buffalo Bay and then 15km straight out to the Dalgleish banks, where he threw anchor to do some bottom fishing.

The change in the sea conditions was sudden. A westerly wind came out of nowhere and it came up hard. The sea was whipped into white caps as far as the eye could see. Blu 2 bucked against her anchor and Wayne decided to call it quits. Worried about the return trip through the Heads, he called his wife, Belinda, on his cellphone. Estimating that the return trip would take him an hour and a half, he asked her to be at the lookout on the East Head to guide him through at around 11h30.

Waves were now breaking over the bow, the wind was getting stronger and it was starting to rain. It was 10h30.

18 Sea Rescue > winter 2009

Meanwhile, Graeme Harding, Station 12 (Knysna) station commander, looked at the rapidly deteriorating weather and said to fellow crewmen Thomas Holmes and Andrew Aveley, ‘I hope nobody is out there.’

It was minutes after those prophetic words that Wayne finished stowing his anchor, put power on the engines and turned the bow into the sea. While at anchor, the boat’s transponder had stopped operating.

Frustrated at not being able to get the GPS and trip log working, Wayne slowed the boat down, and with the engines ‘ticking over’, he moved to the stern to push it down.

‘It was almost as if I was bumped off the boat,’ Wayne explains.

‘Obviously, I hit something or a bit of a swell hit me, and it literally just knocked me straight off the back.

‘I fell between the two motors and, since the motors were running, there were bubbles everywhere. By the time I came up, came to my senses and turned around, the boat was gone. It was just gone.

‘And that was me. It was a moment of absolute panic and terror. My immediate thought wasn’t about how far the shore was or anything like that; it was literally just... s**t!’

Wayne was completely alone – no life jacket, no cellphone, about 15km from shore and in big trouble. Wearing shoes, camo shorts and a green rainjacket, he was hardly dressed for the occasion, but his first thought was to defend himself against sharks.

‘I had a Leatherman in my pocket, so I took it out. I didn’t want to take my shoes off because, if anything came at me, I would be able to kick and defend myself.

‘For the first 15 or 20 minutes, the thought of swimming to shore didn’t even cross my mind. It was like I was trying to come to terms with the situation I had landed myself in,’ he recalls.

The waves were constantly crashing on his head, pushing him under so he decided to move.

PHOTOGRAPHS KINDLY DONATED BY liza wigley AND BRINKIMAGES

AFTER THREE HOURS OF SWIMMING, I STARTED PANICKING THAT I’D BE STUCK IN THE WATER IN THE DARK ‘I started swimming my heart out.’

By 12h40, Belinda, who had been waiting at the lookout on the East Head, knew he was in trouble. Wayne was always punctual, and for him to be running so far behind his estimated time was unusual. She called Sea Rescue.

Station 12 (Knysna) station commander Graeme Harding explains: ‘Because of the weather, I decided to get the guys immediately, and we launched our 8.5m rescue boat Colorpress Rescuer.’

Graeme then contacted Station 14 (Plettenberg Bay) and asked for assistance and air support. Station commander Ray Farnham activated the crew, giving them the brief to start searching on the trip down to Knysna, before getting on the phone to organise an aircraft.

Graeme guessed that Wayne had capsized shortly after his call to his wife, and the search patterns were worked out on the drift of the boat.

The rescue crew were looking for a man on an upturned hull.

Meanwhile, Wayne had decided he had no option but to swim to shore. The huge distance didn’t frighten him, as he was extremely fit from playing squash and exercising in the gym.

‘I’d swim for 20 minutes to half an hour, then I’d get tired and turn onto my back and do a kind of backstroke doggy-paddle. Whenever I turned around, the waves would break in my face. I realised I was swallowing a lot of water, which started worrying me. After about two hours, the salt water was passing through me, like diarrhoea,’ he remembers.

‘After about three hours of swimming, the shoreline was becoming bigger and I starting panicking that I’d be stuck in the water in the dark.’

By now, Wayne was extremely tired. He drew on his reserves of mental strength by thinking of his wife and two children.

‘I kept on wondering when my wife would have called the NSRI. I shouted at her, “My babe, send those red boats!” I was praying I would see them coming through the water.’

The rescue teams were getting desperate. Graeme had decided to send the tiny 4.2m Spirit of Knysna Yacht Club (KYC) to join the search, a decision that weighed heavily on him. The little boat, with its two crew and one engine should not be at sea without support. But everyone knew that time was running out.

Volunteers Thomas Holmes and Andrew Aveley, who earlier had watched the weather bomb out with Graeme, knew it was a risk they needed to take.

Sitting in the radio shack on top of the East Head, Graeme decided to act on a hunch that he later could not explain. He got on the radio.

Opposite: Station 12 crew with the Bergstroms at a reunion held at the base. Top: Andrew Aveley and Thomas Holmes, the volunteers who found Wayne. Middle: Wayne and his wife, Belinda. Above: Blu 2 after she washed up on the rocks miles away from the search area

Sea Rescue > winter 2009

19

real-life rescue ‘We’re looking for a man in the water,’ was the message he sent to the rescue boats. There was silence and then the response, ‘There is no way we will find a person in the water in these conditions.’

Wayne knew he was losing it. The current was fierce, and he doubted that he’d be able to swim through the surf, which was breaking a kilometre out to sea. He removed his jacket to make a bouy, but within minutes, there were hundreds of birds around him. ‘They were landing next to me. That freaked me out. If I was getting so much attention from the sky, I must be getting attention from underneath. It was as if they knew I was going to be food. They were waiting around for me to be broken in half, so that they could get their share.

they would need to pass within 15m of wayne to find him... they were looking for a needle in a haystack ‘It was like something out of a Stephen King movie. I was so freaked out that I put the jacket back on, and the birds flew off.

With Belinda sitting on a bench metres from where he was directing the operation, Graeme could not afford to be negative. Acting on another hunch, he asked the KYC crew if they were able to go past the Western Head down towards Buffalo Bay. For Thomas and Andrew this was bad news. They were taking a pounding from the horrid sea conditions and, if they were looking for a man in the water, they would need to pass within 15m of him. They were looking for a needle in a haystack.

Graeme recalls, ‘We had been searching for nearly three hours and I was preparing myself for the worst. I asked KYC if they would go to Castle Rock and then return to base. We implemented a one-minute radio check to make sure they were OK. On the third call, I couldn’t get them.’

The little boat had moved into a radio shadow and Thomas decided to move further out to sea so they could confirm they had finished the last pass and were returning to base.

And that’s when Andrew saw what looked like a head at the edge of his vision. Andrew turned the bow into the direction that he had seen the object and both men strained to get another sighting. And then Thomas saw it... a head that kept disappearing.

By this stage, Wayne was so exhausted, he didn’t think he could go on for another five minutes. ‘After five hours of swimming, from the top of a swell, I could see the beach between Buffalo and Brenton. I knew that I was getting closer. But I was exhausted, totally finished,’ he remembers.

‘And then I heard it, this distant little buzz. A little rubber duck was a few hundred metres away. I went berserk. Thomas and Andrew came flying over and Thomas leaned over the side and asked me if I was Wayne Bergstrom. I did see the funny side of it. It was like, I’ll be anyone you want me to be right now.

‘They pulled me into the boat and I huddled between them. All I wanted to do was go to sleep. I have never felt safer in my life.’

The radio communication from KYC electrified all who heard it.

‘Base, this is KYC. We have the casualty.’

‘Confirm that the casualty is Wayne Bergstrom.’

‘It is him.’

20 Sea Rescue > winter 2009

It was 16h03 when Graeme walked out of the radio shack and told Belinda her husband had been found, alive.

‘And that was it. She crumpelled into a heap of tears on the ground. It was pretty emotional. It was pretty hectic,’ Graeme recalls.

Wayne was transferred to the bigger rescue boat for the journey back through the Heads, and then taken to hospital by ER24. He was severely hypothermic and dehydrated, and secondary drowning was a real threat.

He spent three days recovering in ICU where the head of the unit, Emily Burgess, also a Sea Rescue volunteer, helped him recover.

On Friday 3 April, after his discharge from hospital, Wayne met the rescue crew. He was presented with his boat, which had been found miles from the search area. According to Ray Farnham, if they had spotted the boat when they were looking for Wayne, the search area would have been changed dramatically and Wayne would not have been found.

In another strange coincidence, Belinda’s grandfather had donated the land on which the Sea Rescue base was build in the 1960s.

‘Its amazing how that circle has come around,’ says Wayne.

Wayne with his family

IN SHORT

Wayne Bergstrom is extremely fortunate to have survived. He went out to sea on his own. He was not wearing a life jacket, and his kill switch was not connected to his person, neither did he have his cellphone secured on his person in a waterproof bag. He is not alone in making these mistakes. Many people do this every time they head out to sea, and many of them have no idea how lucky they are that nothing goes wrong.

That Wayne Bergstrom, a 40-year-old developer from Johannesburg, is able to tell his story, and has been given a second chance to be a husband and father, is due in no small way to his physical and mental strength in the face of total disaster. It is also due to a huge piece of luck and the dedication of the Knysna Sea Rescue volunteers who went way beyond the call of duty.

medical case studies

how did wayne survive?

PHOTOGRAPH kindly dONATED BY LIZA WIGLEY

DR CLEEVE ROBERTSON ELABORATES ON THE MANY FACTORS THAT AID CASUALTIES IN THE SEA Sea conditions and the temperature of the water are clearly primary factors in determining whether someone will survive in the sea. The presence of floating aids and the physical and mental condition of the casualty are secondary but no less important factors.

In this case, being immersed in water of moderate temperature along the east coast was an advantage, but the same person in the Atlantic Ocean would not have survived. The lower the water temperature, the shorter the period of survival. I’ve had a case where seamen capsized off Dassen Island and the subsequent two-hour swim to shore resulted in the deaths of two of three initial survivors.

Water drains the body of heat 25 times faster than air, and movement through the water accelerates this loss. The advice is always to huddle or crouch and to stay as still as possible, but in practice this is not always easy to do. The survivor must weigh up the chances of being found against attempting to swim for shore. If there is a chance of climbing up onto a boat or floating object, the survivor should take it. Life jackets are an important factor and many victims perish simply because they didn’t fasten the jacket properly. Securing a life jacket in the water with cold hands can prove to be an impossible task, so doing it up properly before embarking on any water activity is very important.

Wind and rough seas also hamper survival. In conditions of constant spray, chop and winds, the survivor will cool quicker and is more likely to aspirate water and drown. In cold, rough climates, boats carry life jackets with hoods to protect individuals from this kind of exposure.

Physical condition is also important and the fitter and stronger the casualty, the greater their chances of resisting hypothermia. Body composition may likewise assist in resisting hypothermia, although body mass and fitness may not always match up. Perhaps, more importantly, mental strength and the will to overcome will result in survival.

Treading water can very quickly cause exhaustion. The survivor should float or swim slowly with minimum effort to conserve energy and reduce heat loss.

And wearing bright orange clothing or a life jacket will help the searchers to find survivors.

We’re always taught in the rescue discipline that search is an emergency – because at the end of that search is a human life... if you don’t search now... you won’t find the casualty!

I don’t believe in miracles. I believe in the NSRI and other rescue services in South Africa that will respond, as they always do, if I end up in trouble!

Dr Cleeve Robertson is the Director of Emergency Medical Services, Western Cape, and voluntary Chief Medical Advisor to the NSRI. Apart from being passionate about caring for people, he loves mountain climbing and scuba-diving. He’s also involved in underwater photography and skipper training.

Sea Rescue > winter 2009

21

medical marvels

the healing power of

oxygen Hyperbaric oxygen therapy – a lifesaver for many

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy is not a new phenomenon. In fact, given its wide range of indications – to treat everything from the bends to gas gangrene – it’s quite a buzzword in medical and maritime circles.

The history of hyperbaric medicine goes back a long way and is part and parcel of the history of diving, says Dr Gregory Weir, a vascular surgeon and head of the Vascular and Hyperbaric Unit at the Eugene Marais Hospital in Pretoria and president-elect of the Wound Healing Association of Southern Africa.

Initally developed to treat diving disorders involving gas bubbles in the tissues (such as decompression sickness and gas embolism), it’s also used today in the treatment of a variety of conditions, ranging from crush injuries to acute thermal burns, and can be life saving.

is conducted in specially designed pressure vessels called hyperbaric chambers.

Maritime ailments such as arterial gas embolism (which occurs when gas bubbles are trapped in the blood vessels of the brain) and decompression sickness (more commonly known as the bends) have been successfully treated with HBO for many decades. It works like this: by increasing pressure, the size of the gas bubbles are reduced and the transport of blood to downstream tissues is improved. The high concentrations of oxygen in the tissues also help to keep oxygen-starved tissues alive, and to remove the nitrogen from the bubble, making it smaller until it consists only of oxygen, which is then re-absorbed into the body. After the bubbles have been eliminated, the pressure is gradually reduced back to atmospheric levels.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy enables injured or infected tissue to heal, which would otherwise not be possible. All the body’s primary healing processes are oxygen dependent, and by treating complex medical problems with hyperbaric oxygen therapy, limbs can sometimes be saved and complications can be prevented or reduced in high-risk situations.

PHOTOGRAPH: Gallo images/getty images

HBO THERAPY IS USED TODAY IN THE TREATMENT OF CONDITIONS RANGING FROM CRUSH INJURIES TO ACUTE THERMAL BURNS

How does it work?

Local efforts

Based on the beneficial effects of high-pressure oxygen, hyperbaric (which means increased pressure) oxygen therapy is the medical use of oxygen at a level higher than atmospheric pressure. The treatment

There are more than 10 hyperbaric chambers available at private hospitals across South Africa, two chambers at Pretoria Academic Hospital and three chambers at the Faculty of Health Sciences of the

24 Sea Rescue > winter 2009

words: riekie human

HBO stimulates the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis), which can be especially helpful in irradiated or diabetic wounds.

The treatment kills life-threatening bacteria by improving the body’s immune response, and also reduces swelling and improves the body’s healing processes.

University of Stellenbosch, says Dr Jack Meintjies, from the Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences at Stellenbosch University and past-president of the Southern African Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Association.

In addition, South Africa is very much part of international hyperbaric studies to further the knowledge in this field. According to Dr Frans Cronjé, president of the International Congress of Hyperbaric Medicine, the largest research project we are involved with focuses on reversing the damage related to therapeutic irradiation for cancer. The project is an international study, and hyperbaric chambers were donated to both the University of Stellenbosch and the University of Pretoria to specifically research the effects of oxygen on radiation tissue damage to the bladder, intestines and jaw.

Dr Cronjé says a collaboration with an Australian group to research the effect of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on lower-limb crush injuries is also in the pipeline, and furthermore, in 2011, the International Congress of Hyperbaric Medicine will be held in Cape Town.

Which medical conditions can be treated with HBO? • • • • • • • • •

• • • •

Arterial gas embolism (when gas bubbles are trapped in blood vessels in the brain) Decompression sickness (the bends) Carbon monoxide poisoning Gas gangrene (bacterial infection that produces gas within tissues in gangrene) Crush injuries (where oxygen delivery to tissue is compromised) Problem wounds (certain diabetic, arterial, venous and pressure sores) Necrotising infections (caused by flesh-eating organisms) Refractory osteomyelitis (bone infection) Therapeutic radiation tissue damage to the mandible and soft tissues (including skin and bladder) Compromised skin grafts and flaps Acute thermal burns Acute blood loss anaemia Inoperable brain abscesses.

For more information on this fascinating form of treatment, visit www.sauhma.co.za

underwater magic

tiny dancers WITH THEIR ELEGANT MOVEMENTS AND CAMOUFLAGE SKILLS, SEAHORSES ARE among the most FASCINATING of sea cREATURES, SAYS NATURALIST AND DIVER GEORGINA JONES. Photographs by geoff spiby

26 Sea Rescue > winter 2009

Seahorses are remarkable creatures. Their heads resemble those of chess knights, and their bodies, equally knight-like, are encased in bony armour instead of scales. Chivalry will never vanish while seahorses still grace the oceans, because, as well as the knightly resemblances, it is the male of the species that bears the young.

Seahorses are usually found in shallow tropical or temperate seas and are relatively poorly known to science. There are over 35 described species, ranging in size from one of the smallest known vertebrates, the gorgonian pygmy seahorse that is a mere 5mm in length, to the Pacific seahorse at 30cm. Six different seahorse species are known from southern Africa, one of which, the Knysna seahorse, is only found in the Knysna, Keurbooms, Swartvlei and Kleinbrak estuaries.

They are a strange looking group of fish, with horselike heads and eyes that can swivel independently of each other, rather like chameleons do. They usually eat small crustaceans, tiny fish and planktonic organisms, sucking them up with their long snouts.

Rather than having scales, their skin grows tightly over a frame of interlocking hinged bony plates. They swim vertically, propelling themselves using their dorsal fins, and balancing and steering with their pectoral fins. Unsurprisingly, given their relative fin-to-bodysize ratio and their upright swimming method, they are not strong swimmers, and spend most of their time with their prehensile tails curled around supports like seagrasses or corals. They are able to change colour and can blend in almost perfectly with their environment. Not being especially fleet of fin, their avoidance of predators depends on invisibility rather than on rapid retreat.

In the art of camouflage, pygmy seahorses are masters. Of the five known species, each lives only on very specific corals or seaweeds and is all but indistinguishable from its host. Their minute size definitely helps.

Seahorse mating behaviour is fascinating. Seahorse males usually maintain only a small territory, living in a patch of a couple of square metres, while the females may range over several hundred square metres. At the beginning of the summer breeding season, seahorse pairs establish a bond which endures for the entire breeding season and may last for life. Each morning after dawn, the female visits the male. They greet one another with brightening colours, then dance together, slowly circling one another. When the female’s eggs are ripe and the male is ready, both seahorses change colour dramatically. The pair entwine, then rise slowly, bellies touching as the vividly coloured female inserts her sticky egg-string into the male’s brood pouch. The male fertilises the eggs, either before or after they enter his pouch, and they become embedded in the wall of the pouch.

Much like a mammalian womb, the pouch supplies each embryo with oxygen and nutrients. Male seahorses produce the same hormone as pregnant humans do (prolactin), which in seahorses helps to nourish the embryos. During the pregnancy, the fluid in the pouch changes, becoming more and more like sea water over the two to four weeks of gestation, preparing the young for leaving the pouch.

Each morning of the male’s pregnancy, the female visits the male’s territory and the pair perform a greeting ritual, changing

Main photograph: The belly pouch slit is visible on this Mozambique seahorse. Above left: These pygmy seahorses (Hippocampus bargibanti) are usually found in pairs. Top right: The thorny seahorse (Hippocampus histrix) shown here on black volcanic sand is found in South Africa, the Red Sea and Japan Bottom right: The Knysna seahorse (Hippocampus capensis) is an elusive creature and blends almost perfectly into its environment

colour, entwining and rubbing bellies. Apart from maintaining the pair bond, rather unromantically, the ritual ensures that the female is aware when the male has given birth and is ready for the next transfer of eggs.

During birth, the male performs jack-knife contractions, which cause the minute babies to be expelled from his pouch. From the moment the young emerge, they are totally independent. They rise to the surface, take a gulp of air to fill their swim bladders, and then return once more to the ocean floor. They tend to swim horizontally, and use their prehensile tails to hold onto seagrasses, coral fronds or mangrove roots.

FROM THE MOMENT THE YOUNG EMERGE, THEY ARE TOTALLY INDEPENDENT The female will mate with the male shortly after the birth, so the males remain continuously pregnant throughout the breeding season.

Depending on the size of the seahorse, the female may deposit tens to thousands of eggs at each mating. Survival rates are low, with around five young seahorses surviving to adulthood out of every thousand born.

Like almost all fish, seahorses do not care for their young once born.

However, the pouch brooding of their embryos ensures that their survival rates are higher than most other fish.

But is it really chivalry? Some studies calculate that the energetic requirements of producing the eggs amount to half as much for the female as the weeks of incubation cost the male. By the male incubating the eggs while the female builds up the next batch of eggs, amounting

to 30 percent of her total body mass at transfer, the pair ensures that as many live young are born of their pairing as possible.

A dreamy knight’s tale or a pragmatic partnership? Seahorses, with their habitual expressions of wistful acceptance and humble patience, aren’t saying.

For more underwater images by Geoff Spiby, visit www.geoffspiby.co.za

at the Knysna Hollow Country Estate valued at R3 000 Enter our competition and stand a chance to visit the natural habitat of the Knysna seahorse. Nestling in seclusion near Knysna’s famous lagoon, Knysna Hollow Country Estate offers a quiet retreat among oaks and pecan trees. Rooms and chalets have been tastefully decorated with a Knysna Forest feel and are set in lush surrounds.

Enjoy delicious fare at the Knysna Hollow Restaurant with its warm and relaxed atmosphere, or unwind at the contemporary Pecan Tree Grill Room. Your host Clive looks forward to welcoming you personally! Tel: (044) 382-5401.

Competition details: The prize includes a weekend for two adults (and two children if required), breakfasts and one dinner, and a trip to Featherbed Nature Reserve. Just answer this simple question: What is the scientific name of the Knysna seahorse? Email or fax your answers to wmaritz@tppsa.co.za or (021) 424-3612, and include all your contact details. Competition closes on 30 September 2009. The prize can be redeemed until 28 February 2010. Own transport required.

Sea Rescue > winter 2009

27

shore crew

Keeping it all

together Shore crew form the nerve centre of every NSRI rescue, Riekie human discovers

Rescue 15 Base, please confirm the position of the casualty; conditions are bad and visibility is almost zero. Over.

Rescue 15, you must search more towards the SPM. Rescue 15 Alpha is also searching in that vicinity. Over.

Rescue 15 Alpha, this is rescue 15 base; please keep a look out for Rescue 15. They are heading in your direction. Over.

Rescue 15 Base, copy that. The Pinnacle Point boat has located the casualty craft and took all crew on board. They’re heading towards the harbour.

We will stay at the casualty boat until Rescue 15 arrives to tow the capsized craft back to the Yacht Club. We’ve lost one of our motors. Over.

Rescue 15 Alpha, copy that. Out. Rescue 15 Base, this is Rescue 15; we have another capsized rubberduck. The two crew members are being transferred onto a private boat and are going back to the Yacht Club. We will take the rubberduck in tow; our position is 34º 23’452”S and 022º 28’567” E. Over.

Rescue 15, copy that. Alpha is waiting for you at the casualty boat. They have lost one engine and cannot take the casualty in tow. Over.

Rescue Base, copy that. We will assist Alpha and come back for the rubberduck at a later stage. Can you get the position of Alpha? Over.

28 Sea Rescue > winter 2009

This conversation isn’t a scene from an action movie, but rather a real-life exchange that took place between the shore crew members of Station 15 (Mossel Bay) and its rescue teams at sea.

While most of us would panic if we had to coordinate two rescue boats, help them (via radio) to adapt to changing weather conditions and lend a comforting ear to the distressed family members of those in trouble, the NSRI’s shore crew members take it in their stride. Conscious of what is at stake, these highly skilled individuals work tirelessly to support rescuers at sea, maintaining contact with the rescue boats during a call-out, as well as plotting the progress of the rescue, and calling in assistance (such as helicopters or medics) if required.

For Rhine Barnes, Statcom at Station 18 (Melkbosstrand), it’s doubly stressful, as he has family members in his rescue teams. His daughter Tammy and her husband Myck Jubber, as well as his son Wesley and wife Jolene, are all rescuers. Rhine says there’s a certain comfort in having his family around him in what is a shared passion, but there are times, especially in bad weather, when he can’t help worrying.

The fact that Rhine has been in the emergency services business for over 33 years helps. He explains, ‘It’s so important for the crew out there to hear a calm voice on the radio. It gives them the reassurance that the

SHORE CREW KNOW WHAT IS AT STAKE AND WORK TIRELESSLY TO SUPPORT RESCUERS AT SEA situation is under control. If you’ve ever been in a stressful situation, you’ll know what I’m talking about.’

The importance of calm, competent shore crew members cannot be stressed enough. Fulfilling a variety of roles, they need to be able to anticipate what resources, information and logistical support the rescue craft may need. ‘In addition, shore crew members also maintain a radio log and formulate administrative operations reports, while keeping in contact with the police and concerned family members,’ Rhine adds.

‘You never relax until all crew are accounted for and safely back in the base. This is not a job for the faint-hearted.’

And, as Dawie Zwiegelaar, Statcom of Station 15 (Mossel Bay) points out, the shore crew’s assessment of a situation, especially in terms of weather and sea conditions, is a critical component of the rescue boat coxswain’s decision-making process, so it’s imperative for shore crew to stay calm, and be able to sum up and communicate a situation succinctly.

A thorough knowledge of the terrain is another huge benefit, says Bob Meikle, Statcom of Station 21 in St Francis Bay. He remembers how, when the chokka boat Kingfisher went down, shore crew members Choppie Lindstrom and Mark Mans’ 4x4 vehicles and knowledge of the local terrain got the rescuers to the scene quickly. ‘Their know-how was invaluable in the rescue,’ he says.

Every station’s set-up is different, and each has its own set of challenges. At Station 26 in Kommetjie, Lloyd Johnston can vouch for a team of shore crew who delivers under extremely stressful circumstances. Since the station doesn’t have a dedicated building, the shore-crew members operate from a garage or the cab of the 4x4 vehicle. ‘They’re our lifeline, especially at night. They keep us informed, check on us constantly and once the job is done, they talk and guide us

Top: Station 6 (PE) shore crew respond by 4x4 and take a bearing of the casualty craft. Above: Dave Roberts, PJ Veldhuizen and Jenny Price back through the channel with illuminating flares or car lights. They help us recover the boats, wash down and stow gear before debriefing. Then they treat us with coffee, hot chocolate and biscuits,’ smiles Lloyd.

Shore crew coastwatchers are also pivotal to saving lives. Stuart Burgess, Deputy Statcom of Station 9 in Gordon’s Bay tells the following story: ‘A few years ago, a boat with four men onboard capsized off the Strand, just after sunset. They fired flares, and because we had accurate information from our shore crew volunteers, we were able to calculate their most probable position, and we found them in time.’

Shore crew volunteers are also involved with maintenance, administration, fundraising, mentoring new recruits, and taking boats in for servicing or repairs. Many crew, when they reach retirement age for sea-going duties, stay on as shore crew, passing on their knowledge to the next generation. ‘This takes enormous pressure off the sea-going crew and helps to keep the station operating like a well-oiled machine,’ says Rhine.

Some of the most loved shore crew are the mother and father figures of rescue teams, who are always at the ready with a comforting hot drink and dry towel when sea-going crews return to the base. As Bob says fondly of Dee Love, the ‘station mother’ at St Francis, ‘She’s only been with us for three years but she’s unbelievable with the crew, she is incredibly efficient but has a heart of gold and treats each one as family.’

This description of Dee pretty much sums up the dedication of NSRI’s much-loved shore crew. We thank each of you for all you do.

Sea Rescue > winter 2009

29

shore crew FROM THE base I have been asked what it is like to be shore crew. I don’t know if I can be considered genuine shore crew as I started my NSRI career going to sea. I decided after five gruelling years of hanging over the pontoon of a 7m and winning the prestigious ‘Potty’ award for four of those years, to retire myself to shore crew. (It happened slowly – I was hoping no one would notice.) I keep my medical up to date because every now and then I can’t resist the rush of going to sea when everyone else is returning home.

Being a shore crew member is by no means a small or unimportant role. We are the umbilical cord between our fellow crew members and their families. Whenever a rescue boat is out at sea, there is someone at the station keeping watch. Wives and husbands sleep well knowing that there is someone watching over their spouses. As radio operators, we are maintaining contact every 20 minutes, taking note of position, course and speed, which is then plotted manually to check the progress of the call-out. If the rescue vessel requires the services of a medic, military helicopters or professional advice, this is arranged. I have mastered ‘sleeping’ in a chair, radio in hand, ready to key the mic when needed. At times you are also there to provide words or reassurance to the casualty’s families waiting for their loved ones to return. Reassuring them that you, and your fellow crewmen are doing all possible to bring them back safely. As shore crew, your job does not end when the boat returns, because then you are truly needed – hot coffee is always appreciated, as well as an extra hand to wash up and prep the boat for the next call-out.

Brynn Gericke, Station 19 (Richards Bay)

TO MENTION JUST A FEW...

• Don Nichols, Station 2 Bakoven Don is a founding member of this station and has been recognised for service and dedication on several occasions. When he reached the end of his sea-going days, he became a shore crew member and manages the ops room during rescue missions.

• Wendy le Clus, Station 3 (Table Bay) A shore crew member of the original Station 1 (Table Bay), Wendy, a qualified pilot, proved to be a great asset during rescue operations due to her navigation skills, and calm nature. She retired to Struisbaai and for several years assisted that station set up a shore control.

• Pam St Clair Laing and Barbara McNamara, Station 5 (Durban) Both ladies play valuable roles in the operations room. Pam assists with the record keeping and Barbara, together with her husband, Alec, provide first-aid training for all the stations in the KZN region.

• Shawn Phillips, Station 6 (Port Elizabeth) Shawn has been a shore crew member for eight years. Shawn hails from Texas and spent 12 years working for emergency services in Austin. He is perhaps best known as a musician and composer with 18 awardwinning albums to his name.

• Ken Elliot, Station 7 (East London) Ken has been a member of the station since 1986 and today is the chief controller with an enthusiastic group of ladies who are following in his footsteps. He has managed the base building maintenance over the years and has overseen the base expansions for the new 12m Rodman boat.

• Margie Benson, Station 8 (Hout Bay) Margie has been an integral part of the station for the last 25 years. She excels at manning the radios and keeping all incoming data up to date during an incident.

• John ‘Chops’ Craig, Station 10 (Simon’s Town) ‘Chops’, now in his 70s, is synonymous with the Simon’s Town station. He was a founding member, served as station commander and now plays a prominent role as a shore controller.

• Wally Hyman, Mike ‘Jakes’ Jacobs and Roger Clancey, Station 12 (Knysna) Wally joined in 1981. After retiring from sea-going duties, he stayed on as a senior controller and standby radio officer. He is always willing to offer advice and train new crew.

Jakes joined in 1986, and after twenty years, he stood down as seagoing crew. After a two-year break, Jakes returned as radio officer and controller.

Roger joined in 1974 and is a huge asset to the station, assisting with boat repairs and giving of his knowledge freely to the younger crew.

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Email your answer to wmaritz@tppsa.co.za or fax it to (021) 424-3612. Please include your name, addresses and telephone number with your answer. For more information on Luminox watches, visit www.luminox.com or email Doug Sutherland on sutson@icon.co.za

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south african weather service

Provider of vital information to the maritime community www.weathersa.co.za

Storm Surges on the South African Coast

Many South Africans will remember the storm surge of March 2007 which caused millions of rands damage to the KwaZulu-Natal coast. Similarly the coastal flooding which occurred last year (31 August to 2 September) extending all the way from False Bay to Port Elizabeth, also received extensive television coverage.

A barge crashes against the Three Sisters Rock in Knysna

What is storm surge?

During the course of less than a day, gale force winds can cause water to start to pile up against an adjacent coastline. Note, however, that the wind direction does not have to be directly onshore. For example, a strong westerly wind blowing along the Cape South Coast will also result in onshore water movement within the water column. This is due to the earth’s rotation.

Sea level pressure Apart from the wind, a lowered sea level pressure will also result in sea level rise: 1cm for every 1 hPa. However this effect is only significant in the case of very deep, compact low-pressure systems.

Tides Remember that tide tables do not take into account the effect of weather conditions such as those which produce coastal surges. Even the times of the tides may be affected during a major event.

Wave conditions Coastal wave conditions play a major role in extending the

A barge runs aground at Jacobsbaai

Safety The most likely threat of storm surge towards small boat operators is probably related to the safety of their craft (hopefully they will not have set out to sea – surges on our coast are almost always associated with extreme wind and wave conditions). Those who normally keep their boats (even relatively) close to the surf zone need to take action well ahead of time. Boats stored in the safety of boathouses may have to be removed. In small craft harbours mooring lines should be increased.

Rising sea level Tide gauge records indicate that sea levels along the South African coast have been rising by roughly 1mm per annum for the past 30 years. Although this appears minimal, it’s predicted this trend will continue and it may even increase. In the long-term, the lower-lying coastal areas will experience an ever-increasing risk of flooding, particularly during the more extreme storm surge events.

Beach erosion after storms at Plettenberg Bay

Predictions The South African Weather service has a well developed warning system that posts advisories and warnings well before such anticipated events in the media and on radio. This, however, is followed up with up-to-date warnings issued via an sms service to the NSRI, Disaster Management and various other role players. Specialised marine forecasts are also recorded on the following numbers: 083 123 0500 and 082 162. Both numbers require users to go through a menu set-up until the desired service and location is found.

Sea Rescue > winter 2009

WORDS: Hugh van Niekerk and Ian Hunter, SAWS. PHOTOGRAPHS: ANDREW AVELEY, Kosie Roux

influence of the storm surge. It is the heavy surf that is superimposed on the increased water level that does the main damage to coastal infrastructure – harbour protection walls, boathouses, beaches (erosion), etc. Storm watchers should bear in mind that individual ‘rogue’ waves may reach well beyond the general inundation zone.

31

BEHIND THE SCENES

saving lives one call at a time Margret Francis

Robin Kleu

RIEKIE HUMAN visited the NSRI’s call centre in Sea Point and discovered a group of amazing people The enthusiasm in the call centre is infectious, and before long, it becomes obvious that there are two sets of people who contribute to its success. The first is the collective of agents, who tirelessly sell competition tickets, and then there are the thousands of loyal NSRI supporters who are always ready to contribute to this worthy cause.

Bonny Louw is in her fourth year at the centre and the highlight for her was when some proactive thinking on her part resulted in a major acquisition for Sea Rescue: ‘I heard that our helicopters were in dire need of rescue equipment and that the US Coast Guard only uses its equipment for a year (we use ours for seven). By chance I came across a supporter involved with Rotary who offered to contact Rotary in the US to arrange a handover of the equipment to our head office. It was amazing!’

Adéle Slabbert, Audrey Joffe Jenny Borkum

Cindy Robertson and Flo Roodman

This kind of out-of-the box thinking and the incredible people the staff deal with make the blood, sweat and tears of selling worthwhile. Rose Pelteret, who’s been an agent for the past two-and-a-half years, relates the following story: ‘I spoke to a lady last year who had fallen on hard times.

After being a diplomat’s wife, she was reduced to working as a nanny in order to survive. Nevertheless, she insisted on buying a ticket because her son uses the sea, and she was sure God would provide for her.’

Cindy Robertson, who manages the Monthly Draw Competition and has been with the NSRI for the past eight years, says it’s this kind of mindset that makes working here so special. She adds that it’s a tremendous feather in the cap of each agent that the staff turnover is so low. ‘The call-centre industry is known for its high turnover, so it’s a huge achievement to have such a loyal agent base.’ She says there are many factors – thorough training, feedback and a good dose of motivation.

Call centre staff work on two competitions and target organisations, clubs and use referrals. One group sells tickets for a Car Competition, and the other handles the Monthly Draw Competition. Each agent has a monthly target. The Car Competition, which sells at R450 per ticket, has a grand prize of two Mitsubishi Pajeros, as well as a second prize of a trip for two to the Spanish Grand Prix. The Monthly Draw entails selling tickets of R25 via a monthly debit order with five winners of R10 000 each month. Those participating also stand a chance to win a whopping R100 000 prize in December.

Cindy says it’s incredible to see how relationships develop with the donors. ‘Often, we get calls from supporters who ask if they can buy more tickets,’ she enthuses. If you are stuck for an ideal gift for your husband or son, what about an entry into one of our competitions?

Who knows what they could win.

To enter the Car Competition, please call Judith Longmore on (021) 430-4744; for the Monthly Draw, call Cindy Robertson on (021) 430-4730.

32 Sea Rescue > winter 2009

PHOTOGRAPHS: andy lund

IT’S A HUGE ACHIEVEMENT TO HAVE SUCH A LOYAL AGENT BASE

RESCUE REPORTS

ILLUSTRATION: DARRYL EDWARDES

NSRI VOLUNTEERS RESPOND ANYTIME – DAY OR NIGHT

Surf-ski saga On Wednesday 15 April at 14h16, Station 3 (Table Bay) launched the 5.5m RIB Rotary Endeavour, and the Metro Red Cross AMS helicopter responded following an eyewitness report of two surf skiers suspected to be in difficulty in the surf at Milnerton Beach.

When the rescuers arrived on scene, they realised that the surf skiers had simply been swapping skis at sea. Both of them were in the water, giving the concerned onlooker the impression that they were in trouble.

Station commander Pat van Eyssen said they put it down to a false alarm with good intentions.

Rough seas on the South Coast Station 20 (Shelly Beach) crew were called to the Umzimkulu River mouth on Sunday 8 March at 08h15, where a 20-year-old male, believed to be homeless, had reportedly been swept down the river. He had apparently tried to swim across the river to retrieve the inner tube of a tyre, which had in all likelihood washed down the river during the night

after a tube race held the previous day. An extensive search revealed no sign of the man, and police continued the search.

Later, at 14h04, crew responded to Ramsgate, Lovers Walk, where eyewitnesses reported that a 22-year-old Cape Town man had gone for a swim in rough surf and hadn’t been seen again. Lifeguards continued to monitor the situation, while Sea Rescue crew responded to a third incident at Shelly Beach, where a local couple reported that their sevenyear-old daughter was missing after getting into difficulty in the surf.

The girl and her two brothers had gone for a walk, but only the two boys returned home. They admitted they’d gone for a swim and that their sister had been swept away by currents and had disappeared in the surf.

An extensive sea-and-shore search in extremely rough sea conditions revealed no sign of the child. Police took over the search.

The body of the man who drowned at the Umzimkulu River was recovered the following evening by police. The other two casualties are still missing, presumed drowned.

Sea Rescue > winter 2009

35

rescue reports

PHOTOGRAPH: COURTESY OF CAPE ARGUS

GRATEFUL THANKS FROM CRAIG’S PARENTS On behalf of my wife and I, I would like to thank everyone involved with the rescue of my son, Craig, from the wreck near Mauri Bay. We are greatly relieved that he is going to be all right. The X-rays show no broken bones and there appear to be no internal injuries from the scan, which is an absolute miracle. The fact that he escaped further injuries was entirely due to the quick response of your teams.

Craig is a young man who has always been an outdoor adventurer. He rides mountain bikes and led a trip on the freedom trail through South Africa for six weeks. He is a former UCT Mountain and Ski Club member, and has climbed mountains in Patagonia and the Alps. But, his brain seemed to have deserted him while he was here on holiday. (He’d been working in the UK for eight months.)

Please pass on our grateful thanks to all the special people involved: the NSRI teams, Metro Red Cross, the helicopter pilot, Metro Ambulance and Rescue and Wilderness Search and Rescue.

He has been given a second chance, and we know that when he’s up and about, he’ll want to thank you all personally. Thank you for the wonderful work you do.

Lyn and Brian Peters, Kyalami Estate, Johannesburg

When light is fading On Saturday 21 March just after 18h00, Station 2 (Bakoven) received an urgent call from the BOS (Bouyge Offshore Services) 400 crane barge wreck at Mauri Bay, between Llandudno and Hout Bay. A young man had fallen 10-12m, and light was fading.

Craig Peters (25), from Kyalami Estate in Johannesburg, and his two friends, Phillip Young and Matthew Penfold, from Tamboerskloof, had been hiking between Llandudno and Hout Bay. Near the wreck, they spotted a rope and decided to use it to get across to explore. Craig went first, and when he was about halfway, the rope snapped on the mainland side and he fell. His friends swam across to him and had to pull him out of the water after he slipped off a piece of the wreck. Three locals, allegedly scrap-metal salvors, came down to assist the young men.

Station 2 duty coxswain Johnny Albert landed volunteers Howard Bell, Mike Hopkins and Mark Ridley onto the wreck. Suspecting a lower-back fracture, they stabilised and secured Craig and treated him for hypothermia and lacerations to his right foot.

The rescue team decided to airlift the patient, but with light fading fast, they knew only one attempt at a helicopter airlift could be made before other options would have to be investigated.

Wilderness Search and Rescue’s high-angle rescue technician, Kevin Tromp, was hoisted down onto the wreck by helicopter, and Craig was secured into a specialised US Coast Guard hoisting stretcher. Thanks to the exceptional flying skill of pilot Iefan Blake, Kevin and Craig were then static-line hoisted (short hauled), to Station 8 (Hout Bay) rescue base, where the patient was taken to Constantiaberg Medi-Clinic in a stable but serious condition.

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TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF SEA RESCUE I wish to express my sincere gratitude to those members of NSRI Bakoven, Kommetjie, Hout Bay, the Metro Red Cross AMS Helicopter, Metro Ambulance and Rescue Services and the WSAR, who were involved in my rescue from the BOS 400 wreck.

Your dedication through countless hours of training and the courage with which you go out and execute rescues has saved many lives throughout the Cape – and on that particular Saturday afternoon, it was mine.

I found it extremely humbling to be rendered so helpless in such a remote and exposed environment – and you came to my rescue. For that I owe you a debt of gratitude the size of Africa.

Thank you, sincerely.

The speed at which you responded to the scene, and your professionalism on arrival was very reassuring for me. I never felt completely overwhelmed with the accident, and this was due to the knowledge that I was in your good hands.

Being airlifted from that exposed wreck in the fading light is something I will remember for the rest of my life!

I am very happy to report that I am making a full recovery. (By all accounts, I have been extremely lucky.) This would not be the case without members of the NSRI, who give of their time so freely, and the personnel of the other rescue services who so selflessly came to my rescue.

I wish to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart, but even more to encourage you. Keep it up! You provide such a necessary and important service to the people of this country. And for that we all owe you a debt of gratitude.

Craig Peters

PHOTOGRAPHS: CASSIE CARSTENS

Clockwise from top left: All crew members safely ashore; a Fish Hoek Cape Medical Response vehicle assists in transporting crew; (from left to right) Wilbeforce Ramncwana of Gugulethu, Imtheaaz Stofberg of Hillview Seawinds and Anderson Koeberg (seated in front) also of Hillview Seawinds, relieved to be safe; the stranded Amber Rose with Chapman’s Peak in the background

Amber Rose runs aground On 28 March at 05h10, Stations 8 and 26 (Hout Bay and Kommetjie), the Metro Ambulance and Rescue Services and CMR (Cape Medical Response) were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority following a distress radio call from the fishing trawler Amber Rose. The trawler, with 12 crew on board, reported to have run aground on Long Beach between Chapman’s Peak and Kommetjie.

In thick fog, the vessel was located by the NSRI rescue craft, hard aground about 15m offshore, in an outgoing tide and 2m of breaking surf. All crew were safe on board and it was decided to evacuate them from the land.

Volunteer rescue swimmers waded through the surf from the beach and rigged a rope from the vessel to the shore, assisting 11 of the 12 crew off the vessel. They were then helped ashore through the shallow surf.

The skipper remained safely on board the vessel to await a salvage team. All 11 crew members were assessed and no injuries were reported.

Hout Bay assists solo sailor Anna Woolf

Malaria alert

In the early evening of 20 March, Station 8 (Hout Bay) was called to assist solo sailor Anna Woolf on the yacht Morwenna. Anna had left Brazil in January for home (South Africa), and had been at sea for two months.

She required a tow to Hout Bay after her rudder failed, 17nm west of Robben Island.

The station’s 10m MTU Nadine Gordimer and 7.3m Albie Matthews were dispatched and the yacht was towed safely to Hout Bay by the larger rescue craft. Kommetjie’s Spirit of Winelands assisted the Hout Bay rescue craft to moor the yacht in Hout Bay harbour successfully.

On 15 April at 10h32, Station 7 (East London) responded on board the station’s 9m ACSA Rescuer I to casualty evacuate a 31-year-old male suffering from malaria from the bulk carrier Eelos, 15nm off East London in calm seas.

A Dynamic Ambulance Services paramedic accompanied the crew and the patient was taken to the rescue base in a stable condition. He was then transported to a local hospital by the ambulance service.

Malaria tablets for the 21 remaining crew members on board Eelos were also delivered to the ship.

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ILLUSTRATION: DARRYL EDWARDES

rescue reports

The Tale of the severed hand Station 21 (St Francis Bay) was activated to assist the SA Police Services just after midday on 21 March with a search on the Krom River. A group of Port Elizabeth learners on a school excursion claimed they had seen a human hand floating semi-submerged in the water.

The 7.3m rescue craft Spirit of St Francis II was launched, and following an extensive search, a flesh-coloured glove was found floating in the river. It was confirmed that the glove was in fact what the learners had seen.

It was quite understandable to all involved that the glove could have been mistaken for a human hand.

young JAZZ Maestros washed off rocks Station 14 (Plettenberg Bay) was activated at midday on 18 March following reports that three teenage males had been swept off rocks into the surf by a wave at The Point on the Robberg Nature Reserve hiking trail.

Sea conditions were rough with 4m swells and the duty lifeguards kindly assisted our NSRI volunteers to launch our three rescue craft – Airlink Rescuer, 7.3m Ian Hepburn and 5m Sally Joan – at the beach in front of our rescue base. Cape Nature Conservation officers also responded to the scene.

Airlink Rescuer, the recently sponsored Zapcat surf rescue craft, was the first to arrive on scene with NSRI rescuers Brad Thomas and Wayne Craig on board. They reported that they could hear cries for help but could not see the casualties in the rough 4m surf despite

38 Sea Rescue > winter 2009

a large crowd of people on the shoreline indicating where the three casualties were.

Then, as Brad turned the rescue craft around a wave, they saw all three teenagers in the surf about 5m from each other.

All three were picked up by the rescue craft, which Brad immediately steered out of the surf line into deeper water where they were met by the other rescue craft. The three teenagers were transferred to Ian Hepburn and treated for hypothermia, shock and lacerations.

They were taken to the rescue base and then transported by ER-24 ambulance to hospital for further treatment.

All the youngsters were released from hospital early that evening following treatment for shock, hypothermia, minor lacerations and following observations for secondary drowning.

The survivors, Brady Casper (19), Lucas Gaffney (16) and James Keefe (18) are members of a touring group of 30 jazz musicians from the Milton Academy in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The group, led by Bob Sinicrope, was accompanied by 10 parents, three chaperones and a Boston cardiologist, Dr Larry Conway.

Dr Conway told us that most of the tour group and three local tour guides – in total a party of 45 – had gone hiking at Robberg Nature Reserve. Once the hiking party had reached the shore front, the three youngsters had ventured closer to the edge of the rocks to make the best of the cool sea spray brought in by the surf pounding onto the rocks below. They weren’t by any means alarmingly close to the edge and appeared to be quite safe when suddenly a very large wave, larger than all the others, swept over them and dragged them into the surf.

Dr Conway said that the local tour guides called the NSRI immediately.

In the meantime, he shouted to the kids to not try to clamber up the rocks, fearing that they would be smashed against them by the surging swell. He also shouted out that they should try to stay together, advice the NSRI repeated while rescue craft responded to the scene.

Once the young men had been rescued, the rest of the party were guided back to the Robberg Nature Reserve parking area by Cape Nature Conservation Officers, after which they all returned to Plettenberg Bay. This was the Milton Academy Jazz Band’s seventh tour of South Africa and the group was due to travel to Cape Town to play in the Human Rights Day Jazz Festival.

Quick thinking and the actions of the tour leaders, coupled with the very fast and very recently sponsored Zapcat Airlink Rescuer, saved those young men’s lives that day. (The rescue craft had arrived at the rescue base the Saturday before the incident, and had only clocked up one hour of sea time.)

All three boys and the chaperones visited the National Sea Rescue volunteers at the base to personally express their gratitude and learn more about their organisation.

March Madness Rescue crew had their work cut out for them on 26 March. At 10h27, Station 33 (Witsand) was activated following reports that a ski boat with a father and son on board had capsized in the Breede River mouth, with the two casualties reported to be in the surf.

Falcon Rescuer was launched and Phillip van Breda, from Betty’s Bay, was found in the surf next to his semi-submerged ski boat. He was taken aboard the rescue craft while his son, Alexander, was found safe on the beach after he had managed to swim ashore. Alexander was transported to doctors’ rooms in Heidelberg for treatment.

At 14h17, Station 32 (Port Edward) launched to assist the commercial ski boat Injule One, which was experiencing steering failure 6km from Port Edward off Palm Beach. She had seven crew on board.

Wild Coast Sun Rescuer (7.3m) rendezvoused with the ski boat. A towline was rigged, and they were brought safely to Port Edward. No-one was injured.

At 14h47, Station 15 (Mossel Bay) launched Vodacom Rescuer I to assist the ski boat Mignon, which was experiencing engine failure 3nm from Mossel Bay harbour. There were three crew members on board.

On arrival on scene, a towline was rigged and they were brought safely into the harbour where they required no further assistance.

At 19h06, Station 9 (Gordon’s Bay) launched two NSRI rescue craft to respond to reports of a teenage male and female suspected of being blown offshore in a canoe.

During a grid pattern search at sea, NSRI rescuers and the SA Police Services scoured the shoreline for signs of the teenagers, and reported finding the two teenagers safely ashore where they required no further assistance. The search was called off.

Drama on the high seas On 24 March at 18h07, Transnet National Ports Authority was contacted following a report that three fishermen were lost at sea in thick fog, somewhere between St Helena Bay and Lamberts Bay. Station 24A (Lamberts Bay), Station 4 (Mykonos) and an SA Air Force 35 Squadron Dakota fixed-wing aircraft were placed on high alert.

Maritime Radio Services broadcast a VHF marine radio all-ships alert for sea traffic in the area between St Helena Bay and Lamberts Bay to remain on the lookout for the fishermen who were on a 4.2m wooden hull boat with a 30hp outboard motor.

The men were advised to drop anchor and wait until the fog lifted.

Arrangements were made to contact the men by phone at intermittent intervals during the night, in an attempt to conserve battery power on their cellphone, but by 04h00 cellphone communication was lost.

Prior to losing cellphone contact, the men said they were rowing their boat using oars, and crew concluded that they had run out of fuel and were adrift. This also meant they were not under anchor as had been instructed.

At first light, the Air Force Dakota, accompanied by NSRI spotters, was dispatched and on arrival in the area, a grid search commenced between St Helena Bay and Lamberts Bay. The air search gradually widened, heading further out to sea, and at 11h20 the small boat, with all three men on board, was found 11.5nm south west of Lamberts Bay, 8.5nm offshore.

The Dakota remained on scene, circling the fishermen until the Station 24A (Lamberts Bay) rescue craft Condor arrived on scene to rescue Gerhard Linnerd, Jan Visagie and Cornelius Basson – three very relieved Lamberts Bay fishermen.

‘We refuelled their boat at sea and escorted them to Lamberts Bay where they were met by their families. They required no further assistance,’ said station commander Ron Selley.

wake-boardING accident Just after lunchtime on 14 March, Station 12 (Knysna) responded aboard JT Rescuer (5.5m) and Spirit of KYC III (4.2m) to Featherbeds on the Knysna Lagoon to assist Barry Masters, 38, from Port Elizabeth, who had suffered a fractured right femur while wake-boarding behind a ski boat.

Barry was treated and stabilised, and taken to the rescue base aboard the rescue craft. He was transported to hospital by an ER-24 ambulance and underwent surgery that evening. He has since recovered well. (See ‘Letters’, page 7.)

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jelly baby in trouble

Suspected TB case

Station 6 (Port Elizabeth) was alerted by Transnet National Ports Authority on 7 March at 16h00 to reports of a yacht in danger of running aground at Kings Beach, next to the Port Elizabeth Harbour.

Volunteers were at the station conducting a routine exercise at the time and immediately launched the 10m Spirit of Toft and 7.3m Nomad III. The NSRI rescue vehicle was dispatched to the scene as well.

The local yacht Jelly Baby with five crewmen on board was heading towards the beach in the surf with a 20-knot south-easterly on-shore wind. Her spinnaker had become entangled in her mast.

Spirit of Toft was manoeuvred through the surf till she was alongside the yacht, which at times had less than 2m of water under her keel in the 2.5-3m breaking swells.

With an advanced outgoing tide, a towline was passed to the yacht crew, but before the towline could even be rigged, the yacht ran hard aground allowing all five crew to step off the yacht onto the beach unharmed.

Later, as the tide rose, efforts to pull Jelly Baby back out to sea were successful, with NSRI shore crew, members of the public and yacht club members assisting to orientate the yacht in the rising high tide. She was towed back out to sea and into port by Spirit of Toft.

The yacht suffered considerable damage including a cracked keel and a snapped mast. (See ‘Letters’, page 7.)

At 00h30 on 15 April, Station 21 (St Francis Bay) responded aboard their 7.3m rescue craft Spirit of St Francis II to evacuate a fisherman from the chokka fishing boat Silver Spirit in choppy seas and 2.5m swells 2nm off St Francis Bay. Station commander Bob Meikle said that the patient, a 30-year-old Port Elizabeth man, was suffering from suspected tuberculosis. He was taken to the St Francis Bay rescue base aboard Spirit of St Francis II, where they were met by Private Care Ambulance Services, which transported the patient to hospital for further treatment.

plett crew assist with Spinal injury On 9 April at 16h35, Station 14 (Plettenberg Bay) volunteers and lifeguards went to the assistance of a 55-year-old male, Mick Daniels, from Waterford, Ireland, who was suffering a cervical spinal fracture, after being dumped hard by a wave while swimming at Central Beach.

An ER-24 ambulance was summoned and the patient, secured with full cervical spinal immobilisation, was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. Later, after further stabilisation in hospital, he was transferred by ambulance to a Knysna hospital where he remains in the intensive care unit.

It appears that Mick may have landed on hard sand on the ocean floor after being dumped by a wave while swimming. We believe that local bystanders brought him out of the water while alerting the rescue authorities.

Die Swart Tobie to the rescue On 8 April at 20h00 Station 23 (Wilderness) volunteers launched their 4.2m rescue craft Die Swart Tobie to assist an adult male and three male children, aged between 9 and 13 years, reported to be missing on a small sailing craft on Swartvlei in Sedgefield.

Following a search, the craft and all occupants were found stranded on a sandbank in an outgoing tide and they were brought to safety.

The three children were treated for hypothermia but required no further assistance afterwards.

In this case the crew of the sailing boat were not wearing life jackets and had no communication devices, emergency flares or emergency signalling devices. They had launched their craft into a light favourable wind at 17h00, but the wind had turned unfavourable. When they hadn’t returned after dark, the skipper’s wife had grown concerned and raised the alarm.

The NSRI appeals to boaters and paddlers on inland and coastal waters to: • wear life jackets correctly fastened at all times while on the water • carry emergency red distress flares, communication devices sealed in watertight plastic bags, a referee whistle, a hand held mirror or CD for signalling • wear suitable and bright clothing according to sea and weather conditions forecast • let a responsible person know what time they are leaving, the route intended and a return time, and to stick to their plans • find out the nearest NSRI emergency telephone number.

rescue reports LETTER OF APOLOGY to craig lambinon, NSRI’s media liaison, FOLLOWING the WHALE EUTHANASIA in kommetjie

PHOTOgraph KINDLY DONATED BY CHAD CHAPMAN

With regards to the beaching of false killer whales at Kommetjie on the weekend of 30 and 31 May, the eNews Channel did erroneously report on the Saturday that the NSRI was responsible for the shooting of the whales.

We deeply regret this error, and any harmful publicity you may have received as a result of this erroneous report.

Please make this apology available to any and all funders and supporters who may have been misled by this mistake. Most of our coverage was highly complementary of your rescue efforts, and one of our writers assumed that the NSRI was therefore also responsible for euthanising the whales. We appreciate your personal effort in dealing with us on a daily basis, and the extraordinary efforts of the NSRI volunteers.

Patrick Conroy, Group News Editor

Diabetic coma alert At 14h15 on 15 April, Station 14 (Plettenberg Bay) responded aboard their 7.3m rescue craft Ian Hepburn to Witsand, at the Robberg Nature Reserve. This followed a request for urgent medical assistance from a woman, who reported that her sister had lapsed into a diabetic coma while hiking at Robberg. A doctor accompanied the crew, and further NSRI volunteers responded by road and hiked to the scene from the Robberg Nature Reserve parking area.

The 31-year-old female was treated, transferred to the rescue craft and taken to the rescue base in Plettenberg Bay before being released requiring no further assistance.

SOLO YACHTSMAN goes missing On Friday 1 May, Station 22 (Vaal Dam) was alerted to a solo yachtsman who had failed to return from a yachting trip. Local yachtsmen had launched a search, but by Saturday, when the NSRI was informed, there was still no sign of him or his yacht. The NSRI and SA Police Services commenced a full-scale search.

A group of local yachtsmen had launched their yachts for a sail on the Vaal Dam on the Friday, but they all headed for their private marinas when a thunderstorm developed. The missing man was last seen by fellow yachtsmen heading in the direction of Hawaii Island at approximately 16h30.

On Saturday 9 May at 8h00, while launching to continue the search, the body of the missing sailor was found washed up on the shore next to Statcom Dick Manten’s house at Manten Marina.

sandbank – and sea rescue – saves couple In the late afternoon of 24 March, Station 21 (St Francis Bay) was alerted to reports of a couple being swept towards the Krom River mouth on their riverboat.

A group of bystanders, swimming in the river at the time, had tried to assist the couple but had abandoned their attempts due to strong currents.

The 4.7m rescue craft Pierre was launched and the couple, a 65-yearold local man and his female companion, were found on their riverboat wedged on a sandbank near to the Krom River mouth. They were brought to safety. The sandbank prevented them from being swept out to sea. They were not injured and, once on terra firma, required no further assistance.

Yachtsman casualty evacuated during regatta On 14 March at 19h24, Station 5 (Durban) responded aboard the 7.3m Megan II to rendezvous with the yacht Jena Bee. Skipper Peter Goble had sustained a fractured right tibia and compound fibula fracture while taking part in a yacht regatta.

Two Netcare911 paramedics accompanied the rescue craft, and on arrival on scene (7nm from Durban’s port), the patient was treated and stabilised before being transferred aboard the rescue craft and taken to the base. From there, a Netcare911 ambulance transported him to hospital where he underwent surgery.

On 5 May 2009, Peter, a farmer in Howick, visited the station, accompanied by one of his crew, to convey his sincere thanks and appreciation. He praised the efforts of the Megan II crew and in particular, the coxswain Paul Dawson.

The crew member who accompanied Peter said he was truly impressed with the way Paul retained the rescue craft’s position alongside the yacht, firstly while the two paramedics boarded the yacht, and then again when recovering the Stokes basket and the paramedics.

The crewman explained that, although a member of several boating clubs and related companies in the Durban area, he had always had some doubt about the NSRI crew’s abilities. But, after this incident, he was ‘converted’ and would now support the NSRI. It is fantastic to get this kind of feedback, and to be appreciated for the service we provide. What is not always visible to the sea rescue crew is the joyous knock-on effect our work has on the families of those assisted.

Operations > 14 221 / Lives saved > 2 227 / Persons assisted > 23 254 BOATS TOWED > 4 498 / BOATS ASSISTED > 2 549

Sea Rescue > winter 2009

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STN 2 // BAKOVEN

STN 10 // SIMON’S TOWN

StatCom: Mark Thompson ( 082 990 5962 Fuel sponsor: Engen Craft: Spirit of Rotary – Table Bay – 6m rescue craft Needs: Binoculars

StatCom: Darren Zimmermann ( 082 990 5965 Fuel sponsor: Caltex Craft: Spirit of Safmarine III – 10m deep-sea rescue craft

Eddie Beaumont II – 5.5m RIB Needs: Fuel sponsor

STN 3 // TABLE BAY StatCom: Pat van Eyssen ( 082 990 5963 Fuel sponsor: Shell Craft: Spirit of Vodacom – 12m deep-sea rescue craft,

Rotary Endeavour – 5.5m RIB Needs: Digital camera for press photographs

STN 4 // MYKONOS StatCom: Craft:

Needs:

STN 5 // DURBAN

StatCom: Craft:

Needs:

Graeme Harding ( 082 990 5956 Colorpress Rescuer – 8.5m RIB, Jaytee III – 5.5m RIB, Spirit of KYC III – 4.2m RIB Long aluminium ladder, sponsor for building comms room

STN 14 // PLETTENBURG BAY

STN 6 // PORT ELIZABETH

StatCom: Ray Farnham ( 082 990 5975 Fuel sponsor: Engen Craft: Ian Hepburn – 7m RIB, Sally Joan – 5m RIB, Airlink

Rescuer – 4.2m Zapcat, Discovery Rescue Runner 2 Needs: Mae West life jackets

STN 15 // MOSSEL BAY

StatCom: Ian Gray ( 082 990 5970 Fuel sponsor: Engen Craft: Spirit of Toft – 10m deep-sea rescue vessel,

Eikos Rescuer III – 7.3m RIB, Boardwalk Rescuer

– 4.2m RIB Needs: Stove (preferably gas), new boathouse floor, binoculars

STN 7 // EAST LONDON

StatCom: Dawie Zwiegelaar ( 082 990 5954 Fuel sponsor: Shell Craft: Vodacom Rescuer – 9m deep-sea vessel, Vodacom

Rescuer II – 5.5m RIB, Vodacom Rescuer IV – 4.2m RIB Needs: Labour and funds for building renovations and material

STN 16 // STRANDFONTEIN StatCom: Wally Panday ( 082 990 6753 Fuel sponsor: Engen Craft: Spirit of Grand West CSI – 5.5m RIB, I&J Rescuer III –

4.7m RIB, Discovery Rescue Runner 3 Needs: Precast concrete garage

Geoff McGregor ( 082 990 5972 ACSA Rescuer I – 9m deep-sea rescue vessel, Spirit of Rotary East London – 5.5m RIB Two filing cabinets, computer

STN 8 // HOUT BAY

STN 17 // HERMANUS

StatCom: Brad Geyser ( 082 372 8792 Fuel sponsor: Engen Craft: MTU Nadine Gordimer – 10m deep-sea rescue vessel,

Albie Matthews – 7.3m RIB Needs: Large whiteboard for training, portable AED (defibrillator)

STN 9 // GORDON’S BAY StatCom: Craft:

Needs:

Keryn van der Walt ( 082 990 5971 Kowie Rescuer – 9m deep-sea rescue vessel, Arthur Scales – 5.5m RIB Binoculars

STN 12 // KNYSNA

Darius van Niekerk ( 082 990 5966 Spirit of Freemasonry – 9m deep-sea rescue craft Gemini Rescuer II – 5.5m RIB, Loved 1s 24:. – 4.2m RIB, Stokes basket

StatCom: Andrew Stevens ( 083 276 2766/082 990 5948 Fuel sponsor: Engen Craft: Eikos Rescuer II – 10m deep-sea rescue craft,

Megan II – 7m RIB, Spirit of Svitzer – 4.2m RIB Needs: Binoculars and torches

StatCom: Craft:

Needs:

STN 11 // PORT ALFRED StatCom: Craft:

Needs:

StatCom: Henk Henn ( 082 568 1829 Fuel sponsor: Engen Craft: South Star – 10m deep-sea rescue vessel, Hunters Gold

Rescuer – 5.5m RIB, Doris Bell – 4m RIB Needs: New computer

STN 18 // MELKBOSSTRAND

Mark Burton ( 082 990 5977 Sanlam Rescuer – 10m deep-sea rescue vessel, Douglas Murray – 5.5m RIB, Inge – 3.2m rescue runner Fenders (large), kitchen cupboards, tool box

StatCom: Craft:

Needs:

082 911

Rhine Barnes ( 082 990 5958 Spirit of Rotary – Blouberg – 5.5m RIB, Men’s Health Rescuer – 4.2m Zapcat Two new boatshed doors, data projector for training

THE NSRI IS MANNED BY 880 VOLUNTEERS AT 30 BASES AROUND THE COAST AND ON THREE INLAND DAMS. ALWAYS KEEP THE EMERGENCY NUMBER 082 911 AT HAND WHEN YOU ARE VENTURING OUT ONTO THE WATER. OUR VOLUNTEERS HAVE DAY JOBS, BUT WILL ALWAYS RESPOND TO YOUR EMERGENCY. FOR ADMIN OR GENERAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL NSRI’S HEAD OFFICE IN CAPE TOWN ON (021) 434-4011

STN 19 // RICHARDS BAY StatCom: Mark Hughes ( 082 990 5949 Fuel sponsor: Engen Craft: Spirit of Richards Bay – 12m deep-sea rescue vessel,

Spirit of Round Table – 7m RIB, Rotary Ann – 4m RIB Needs: Volunteers, R5 million sponsorship for naming rights

STN 20 // SHELLEY BEACH StatCom: Mark Harlen ( 082 990 5950 Fuel sponsor: Caltex Craft: Caltex Endeavour – 7.3m RIB, Caltex Challenger – 5.5m

RIB, Caltex Discovery – 3.8m RIB Needs: Binoculars

STN 21 // ST FRANCIS BAY StatCom: Craft:

Needs:

Bob Meikle ( 082 990 5969 Spirit of St Francis II – 8.5m RIB, Eikos Rescuer I – 5.5m RIB, Pierre – 4.7m RIB Digital camera for press photographs

STN 22 // VAAL DAM StatCom: Craft: Needs:

Dick Manten ( 083 626 5128 Harvey’s Fibreglass – 5.5m RIB Medical supplies

STN 23 // WILDERNESS StatCom: Hennie Niehaus ( 082 990 5955 Fuel sponsor: Engen Craft: Spirit of Rotary 100 – 5.5m RIB, Serendipity – 4.2m RIB,

Swart Tobi – 4.2m RIB, Discovery Rescue Runner 1 Needs: Defibrillator in a waterproof Pelican case

STN 24A // LAMBERT’S BAY StatCom: Craft:

Ron Selley ( 083 922 4334 Private vessels are used for rescues

STN 25 // HARTBEESTPOORT DAM StatCom: Koos Smuts ( 082 990 5961 Fuel sponsor: Shell Craft: Afrox Rescuer II – 5.5m RIB, Vodacom Rescuer 5 – 4.2m RIB Needs: Medical supplies

STN 26 // KOMMETJIE StatCom: Craft:

Needs:

Lloyd Johnson/Ian Klopper ( 083 261 0124/082 782 2001 Rotary Winelands – 5m RIB, FNB Wavescapes – 4.7m RIB Filing cabinet or credenza

STN 28A // PORT ST JOHNS StatCom: Craft: Needs:

John Costello ( 082 550 5430 Freemasons Way – 5.5m RIB Volunteers, launch site for low-tide launches

STN 30 // AGULHAS StatCom: Craft: Needs:

Shane Kempen ( 082 990 5952 Vodacom Rescuer 7 – 8.5m RIB 6.5kva generator, portable petrol water extrication pump

STN 31 // STILL BAY StatCom: Craft: Needs:

Enrico Menezies ( 082 990 5978 Spirit of St Francis – 7.3m RIB, Walvan Rescuer – 4.2m RIB Medical supplies, torpedo buoys

STN 32 // PORT EDWARD StatCom: Craft: Needs:

Mick Banks ( 076 617 5002 Wild Coast Sun Rescuer – 7.3m RIB Airconditioner for control room

STN 33 // WITSAND StatCom: Craft: Needs:

Angus Kirkman ( 082 990 5957 Queenie Paine – 5.5m RIB, Falcon Rescuer – 4.5m RIB Desk, training table, screen, overhead projector

STN 34 // YZERFONTEIN StatCom: Craft: Needs:

André Nel ( 082 824 1404 Rotary Onwards – 7.3m RIB, Lady Coutts – 4.2m RIB Funds for new base

STN 35A // BEACON BAY StatCom:

Conrad Winterbach

( 0083 306 3037/047 498 0042

OTHER Needs:

Sponsorship of five rescue helicopters, reams of A4 paper

Thank you to: • Catherine Heukelman who provided Station 12 (Knysna) with a ladder.

• the Southern Cape Women’s Nomads Bowls Team who donated a camera to Station 23 (Wilderness).

• Fast Fuel who provides us with monthly rations of long-life energy bars for use on our boats.

These donations assist us in the day-to-day running of our bases and fortify our crew after rescues.

STN 27 // VICTORIA LAKE, GERMISTON StatCom: Craft: Needs:

Graham Hartlett ( 082 441 6989 Vodacom Rescuer 6 – 4.7m RIB Computer

NSRI HEAD OFFICE: (021) 434-4011 MEDIA LIAISON: 082 380 3800

CATCH MY DRIFT

at the end of my

tether

Many stay-at-home parents stay at home because they want to make sure that their little descendants are taken care of in a way that evidently only they can do. This became clear to me when we prepared our last will and testament and had to choose replacement parents. We realised no-one else was good enough for our precious peanuts. And so, without us realising it, the golden cage was born.

It was agreed Dad would become the breadwinner and Mom the peanut farmer. Now, almost a decade later, you can’t go forward and you can’t go back, because your precious peanut crop is still growing. You realise that you’re trapped in a beautiful golden cage of your own making and that it’s driving you absolutely bonkers.

After peanut farming for so long, you have very little confidence in your prepeanut-farming skills and it just doesn’t make sense to put the peanut crop at risk if you feel you might jolly well suck at the old skills anyway.

So what do you do? You volunteer in your community.

My thinking was that since my services are free, I’d have to mess up really badly before I’d get negative feedback. I’d be able to talk to grown-ups during the day, and strengthen my confidence in my skills set, while the crop carries on growing at school.

That takes care of the IQ, so what’s with the tsunamis?

I have always had nightmares about monster waves hitting my little cottage way up high on the rocky cliffs.

I can’t swim and we recently moved from Gauteng’s safe 1 400m above sea level to the Kalk Bay/Fish Hoek area where oceanside restaurants regularly replace windows smashed out by the sea.

For me there was only one answer – conquer the fear by volunteering at the NSRI where I can observe seadogs, who respectfully and carefully take on the ocean at its worst.

Men and women who frequently race out after an ill-prepared and overconfident sod who simply trusts that, should they get into trouble out there, someone will come to help. Here is the kicker... if we assume that an unknown someone will automatically be there for us when we need them, we should be also prepared to be that unknown someone for someone else.

We are a people-rich country and we have so much peoplepower to offer our local communities, just tell yourself, ‘I can do it for me’, and start from there. If you have time to volunteer in your community, no matter how insignificant you might think your time or knowledge is, go for it. Go on, open the cage door; it’s a win-win situation!

44 Sea Rescue > winter 2009

Hanri recently joined Station 10 (Simon’s Town) as a volunteer and helps with station admin. Her application form listed her reason for wanting to join as ‘Slowly losing my grasp on sanity through the loads of laundry and marshmallows stuck to my pants’, and we knew immediately she’d be perfect for the job.

If you are in a similar position, please email Meriel on merielb@ searescue.org.za or call on (021) 434-4011 or 082 944 7555. As Hanri says, ‘If you are reliable and willing to help, then go for it!’

illustration: darryl edwardes

What do you do when you are a stay-at-home mom with an ever-decreasing IQ and believe that a tsunami is goING TO get you? ASKS HANRI CONRADIE

1 Thread_1889_SEA

GPSMAP 4012

Saving lives The GPSMAP 4012: the power of networking meets the brilliance of great design. The big, bright, easy to use multifunctional 12” display combines videoquality resolution and luminous colour with the latest in sensor and data options to serve as your all-in-one “nerve centre” for the Garmin Marine Network.

An optional Bluechart g2 Vision card provides 3D-view mapping (both above and below the waterline) for navigating tricky harbours, channels, marinas and other points of interest.

After all if the Garmin 4012 is good enough for the NSRI, surely it’s good enough for you.

Contact us at 0861 Garmin, email:info@garmin.co.za or visit www.garmin.co.za for your nearest Garmin Marine Stockist

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I can save a life!

What can you do?

Not all heroes have fancy names and multi-coloured robes. The Waterwise campaign is an NSRI programme that educates children about the importance of water safety. It also empowers them with the life saving skill of CPR. With 61% of drowning cases happening at dams, lakes and the sea, this initiative trains kids and fishermen to react to these situations. Minimizing the number of deaths and giving rise to a whole new generation of heroes.