SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2021 | NSRI MEMBERS’ MAGAZINE
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CONTENTS
AU T U M N 2 02 1
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40 DROWNING IS SILENT Being vigilant and recognising the universal signs of drowning are vital in preventing tragedies.
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2 LETTERS 8
INTO THE BLUE In January this year a number of adult turtles and hatchlings were released into the wild.
12 A GROUP EFFORT TO
COVER PHOTOGRAPH: DR CLEEVE ROBERTSON
SAVE A FAMILY The harrowing story of a family lost in the Krantzkloof Reserve, KZN, and the combined efforts to find them.
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42 DANGER ZONE Why Sea Rescue is urging members of the public to stay away from the Bos 400 wreck off Maori Bay, Cape Town.
22 AROUND SOUTH AFRICA IN 80 DAYS 44 CREATURES GREAT AND
Adventurer Kingsley Holgate and his team visited Station 5 (Durban) to begin the final leg of their Mzanzi Edge Expedition.
16 EYE IN THE SKY CCTV cameras are a new Sea Rescue initiative used to monitor beach safety.
24 NSRI BASE LOCATIONS 26 KIDS’ CLUB Games, puzzles and important water safety messages.
18 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOSSEL BAY! More about Mossel Bay’s commemorative golden jubilee book.
31 IN THE NEWS Fundraising drives, events, station and sponsor news, and our Long Service and Special Awards for 2020.
(VERY SMALL) How Sea Rescue volunteers care for animals in distress.
46 THE BRAINY BUNCH More about octopuses, and the theories behind their almost alien-like intelligence.
SAVING LIVES. CHANGING LIVES. CREATING FUTURES. SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2021
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FROM THE HELM SUPPOSE THIS autumn message would
have been well matched by the autumn of the Covid-19 pandemic, but perhaps that’s pushing it! It seems this virus, as well as the resulting lockdowns and restrictions, will be with us for a while. Although we were hoping for a summer free from Covid-19 to be enjoyed by all, that was cut short by the reimplementation of Lockdown Level 3, once again throwing plans into chaos. Despite the pandemic, we had prepared well for the season. We had several lifeguarding contracts lined up and our guys on the beaches and at the bases were ready to respond as always. What we did not expect were the beach bans! An absolute tragedy at a personal and business level for everyone. We really have huge empathy for all our stakeholders who have been severely compromised by the effects of the pandemic. However, we are positive about 2021, having survived 2020 and managed to get through much of what we had planned in a year that was surprisingly busy for our services. Medevacs continued in numbers, fishing and boating casualties continued, and we were ramping up to the summer season only to have the beaches closed. There’s plenty planned for 2021, not least of which our survival swimming and water safety programmes, which we hope to get going full steam again after the school year starts. We’ve got some catching up to do.
We’re rolling out our JetRIBs.
On the technological front, the ORC and JetRIB programmes continue to get everyone excited. ORC vessel No 4 is now in the mould! The JetRIBs, of course, are rolling out rapidly into surf rescue services and having a fantastic impact with improved safety. Probably the most difficult element of our service at the moment is the lack of social contact across the platform. We miss one another and we miss interacting with stakeholders, members, donors and crew. It’s interesting how valuable primary human contact is to us! If there’s one thing we wish for this autumn, it’s to be able to congregate, chat, share and get on with the service in the community. This will pass – I suppose we will just have to be patient. The Covid-19 outbreak has been stressful for all of us, but we’ve been sustained by the amazing support we get from so many people. Thank you. Once this is over, we’ll be there with more energy and enthusiasm than ever. We look forward to a Covid-19-free world. All the best; stay healthy!
DR CLEEVE ROBERTSON, CEO
CAPE TOWN: NSRI, 1 Glengariff Road, Three Anchor Bay 8001; PO Box 154, Green Point 8051 Tel: +27 21 434 4011 Fax: +27 21 434 1661 Visit our website at www.searescue.org.za or email us at info@searescue.org.za www.facebook.com/SeaRescue
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THE CREW THE PUBLISHING PARTNERSHIP MANAGING EDITOR Wendy Maritz ART DIRECTOR Ryan Manning ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Carmen Clegg EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Mark Beare PRODUCTION DIRECTOR John Morkel MANAGING DIRECTOR Susan Newham-Blake ADDRESS PO Box 15054, Vlaeberg 8018 TEL +27 21 424 3517 FAX +27 21 424 3612 EMAIL wmaritz@tppsa.co.za SEA RESCUE OFFICE +27 21 434 4011 WEB www.nsri.org.za FUNDRAISING AND MARKETING DIRECTOR Janine van Stolk EMAIL janine@searescue.org.za MARKETING MANAGER Bradley Seaton Smith bradley@searescue.org.za COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER Megan Hughes EMAIL megan@searescue.org.za PRODUCED FOR THE NSRI BY The Publishing Partnership (Pty) Ltd, PO Box 15054, Vlaeberg 8018. Copyright: The Publishing Partnership (Pty) Ltd 2021. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without the prior permission of the editor. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not the NSRI. Offers are available while stocks last. PRINTING Novus Print ISSN 1812-0644
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SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2021
WINNING LETTER
Thank you, Lucas, Gareth and Christine Haysom, for sharing your story with us. Lucas, your prize is on its way.
YOUNG TROOPER RAISES FUNDS FOR NSRI Hi, everyone! As you would have heard, I finished my NSRI walk. We have spoken to NSRI Plettenberg Bay (Station 14), who asked that we use the money collected to buy special dry bags for each of their boats. Each boat has a bag in a different size – they are really quite cool, and a lot more fancy than the one my mom and dad use when I go swimming. We have bought the bags and they will be delivered to the NSRI in Plett. I wanted to deliver these myself but, because of the virus, I can’t go to Plett right now. My mom and dad helped me with this little thank you letter. Thank you so much for all your help and for supporting the walk. It was actually great fun. LUCAS HAYSOM (WITH DAD GARETH AND MOM CHRISTINE)
A (little) man on a mission to raise frunds for Sea Rescue.
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SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2020
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THE SMART THING TO DO I noticed in the latest edition of Sea Rescue magazine that you had a useful section in the centre pages about what to do and who to call if you spot animals on the beach or in distress. Could you perhaps add our organisation to the list, please? The Stranded Marine Animal Rescue Team (SMART) has been very active along the coast from Gouritz to Wilderness for almost six years now. Our volunteers respond to rescue calls on a designated WhatsApp group, and have a permit to work as agents for Dr Greg Hofmeyr from Bayworld in Port Elizabeth. We also cooperate very closely with the South African National Stranding Network; Andre Fraser of NSRI Mossel Bay; the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries; the SAPS; and the Mossel Bay Municipality. Sometimes we are also called upon to do basic necropsies and sampling for the scientists when an unusual stranding occurs. We have had special permits issued to 10 Smarties, as our volunteers are known, to work
WRITE TO US AND WIN! The writer of the winning letter published in the Spring 2021 issue of Sea Rescue will receive an NSRI hoodie. Email your letters to info@searescue.org.za or post them to Sea Rescue magazine, PO Box 15054, Vlaeberg 8018. (Letters may be shortened and the winning letter is chosen at the editor’s discretion.)
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SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2021
One of the black seal pups rescued off Seal Island.
Contact The Stranded Marine Animal Rescue Team (SMART) on 072 227 4715 on the beaches during the closures. Last year, during the hard lockdown, we monitored a huge elephant seal who had hauled out at Glentana for a four-day rest… Very special indeed. This past December we were kept busy rescuing black seal pups that had washed off Seal Island in the bay. We have a truly dedicated private vet, Dr Frans de Graaff, who attends to all our rescues, mostly at his own cost, as funding is a huge problem. (Do I even have to mention that to you?) We mainly rescue or monitor marine animals but occasionally will assist with the collection and transportation of seabirds and penguins for the Seabird and Penguin Rehabilitation Centre (SAPREC). This organisation also has limited funds and volunteers, so we try to help one another when possible. VAL MARSH, SMART
PHOTOGRAPH: VAL MARSH
LETTERS
For NSRI membership or Sea Rescue subscription details: Email info@searescue.org.za or phone (021) 434 4011
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Into the
BLUE
The 14 January 2021 was a momentous – and emotional – day for the group of volunteers and Aquarium Foundation staff who released a number of adult turtles and hatchlings that had been in their care. Cherelle Leong shares this wonderful story.
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ENVIRONMENT
I
MAGINE HAVING THE ABILITY, agility and instinct to be able to navigate the deep ocean
Before her release, Annie’s shell was fitted with a satellite transponder that allows the Aquarium
currents and swim a distance of 2 839km in just 23 days. Then imagine getting tangled in fishing net, alongside a grumpy seal. Unable to swim or feed, you’re at the mercy of the waves until you wash up on shore. This is the story of Annie, a 65kg loggerhead turtle found on Noordhoek beach in July 2019 by a member of the public. Sea Rescue Station 26 (Kommetjie) crew were able to cut her free and she was taken to the Two Oceans Aquarium Education Foundation that oversees all turtle rescue, rehabilitation and releases. Annie was very weak and dehydrated, and did not eat for a full five months after her rescue. She also appeared to have gas trapped in her body that caused her to swim with her rear end up – earning her the nickname ‘Bubble Butt’ among Aquarium Foundation staff. Soon after Annie was moved into the Aquarium’s large I&J Ocean Exhibit she began feeding on her own again,
Foundation to track her movements. That’s how we know that she initially swam north before circling around, heading southeast towards the warm Agulhas current. She has averaged a distance of 111km a day at an average speed of 4.6km/h. At this speed, working with the ocean currents she may soon be enjoying the warm waters off Mozambique. Annie was one of 23 turtles released into the ocean on 14 January 2021. On release day, the Two Ocean’s Aquarium Education Foundation team was supported by two Hout Bay commercial fishing vessels from Hooked on Africa Fishing Charters, as well as crew and a Sea Rescue vessel from Station 8 (Hout Bay) and crew from
igniting the hope that one day she’d be released back into the ocean. On 14 January 2021, that dream became a reality. Thirty-eight nautical miles south of Hout Bay, the same Kommetjie crew who had cut her free on the beach were able to release her into the deep blue ocean. Without a moment’s hesitation, Annie disappeared into the depths, swimming at an estimated speed of five knots, and she hasn’t stopped since. SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2021
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ENVIRONMENT
Station 26 (Kommetjie). For the Sea Rescue crew it was an emotional moment seeing these incredible creatures being released into the ocean. Sea Rescue CEO Dr Cleeve Robertson was one of the photographers in the water who was able to capture some great images of the turtles as they dived away into their newfound freedom.
Please call The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation on 083 300 1663 if you find stranded turtles on the beach. 10 |
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PHOTOGRAPHS: DR CLEEVE ROBERTSON, DEV TRULL, JACQUES MARAIS
THE LOGGERHEAD AND THE LUNCH BOX Alongside Annie, Olaf the hawksbill turtle, Roo the green turtle, and 19 loggerhead hatchlings were released. The largest remaining turtle was Luis, a male loggerhead weighing 101kg. Luis had been rescued near Hout Bay in May 2020. Although he was not dehydrated or particularly weak at the time, he had a 5cm hole in his shell that was badly infected. It is believed that the hole had resulted from gooseneck barnacles that had attached themselves and then burrowed down into his shell to form a colony. This burrowing
PHOTOGRAPHS: DR CLEEVE ROBERTSON, DEV TRULL, JACQUES MARAIS
resulted in an infection that further enlarged the hole to a depth of 6cm. The Aquarium Foundation rehabilitation team treated Luis with antibiotics. They also used raw honey to treat the wound topically – honey contains natural antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, and also supports the regrowth of healthy tissue. The big challenge, however, was keeping the wound dry so that the topical treatment had time to do its work. Initially the team drained his tank and tried to keep him out of the water, but this proved to be very stressful for Luis. A suggestion was made to use a lunch box with a watertight lid to cover the wound. The lunch box was cut and sanded down to fit his shell. The area around the wound was also sanded for a snug fit. Once the lunch box was securely attached, it gave Luis the freedom to swim about and, when treatment was needed, the rehabilitation team could work on the wound and seal it up again to keep it dry. This worked very well, with just a few minor
leaks, and the wound started healing much faster. By the end of 2020, the lunchbox was removed and Luis was deemed fit for release. As soon as he was in the ocean, Luis made a rapid escape southwest – the opposite direction from Annie’s route. The most recent updates (40 days after release) reveal that Annie
‘Sea Rescue is about saving lives. To be able to extend that into marine conservation is a memorable experience that’s incredibly rewarding for the crew.’ Dr Cleeve Robertson and Luis have travelled just over 4 000km each. Annie is back in the Agulhas current and Luis is following the big Agulhas rings south and southwest of Cape Town. It’ll be interesting to see where Annie and Luis go next. SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2021
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A joint operations centre was set up by a number of rescue services to manage the search for the missing family.
A GROUP EFFORT to save a family When a family of five lost their way in the Krantzkloof Reserve after heavy flooding, a host of rescue organisations rallied together to find them. What followed was a harrowing search-and-rescue effort that extended deep into the night. By Cherelle Leong
L
OCATED ABOUT 30KM INLAND from Durban Harbour, the Krantzkloof Nature Reserve is not the usual area of operations for Station 5 (Durban). But when a call came in that a family of five, including a two-year-old girl, were missing in the reserve, which was flooded after a heavy thunderstorm, there were concerns that a swift-water rescue team may be needed. The family had headed out for a short walk late morning when the skies had been clear and the 12 |
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day had been warm. But a sudden thunderstorm soon changed everything, resulting in a heavy downpour of almost 60mm in only 90 minutes. It is believed the family became disorientated during the storm, and by late afternoon the mother, who had stayed at home, raised the alarm. A joint operations centre was set up between the South African Police Service (SAPS) K9 Unit, Kloof Neighbourhood Watch and RescueTech, the local volunteer rescue organisation. An initial
RESCUE
search of the trails downriver
Shouting and waiting for a response and shining torches were all the rescuers could do to try to locate the family.
showed no evidence of the missing family, and when it became clear that the rivers were in flood, Station 5 (Durban) was activated for a potential swift-water rescue operation. It was after 8pm by the time the search teams were assembled, comprising of Sea Rescue crew, RescueTech volunteers, Metro paramedics and SAPS K9 operators. Two teams headed down into the gorge while a third support team operated from the lookouts above the rocky crags. The heavy rain had transformed the trail into a very slippery route, and the darkness, dense vegetation and intermittent rain compounded the difficulty of the search. Shouting and waiting for a response and shining torches were all the rescuers could do to try to locate the family. VERBAL CONTACT It was the search teams operating from above
the kloof that first heard shouts in response to their calls. But the echo of the terrain made it difficult to pinpoint where the family might be. A short while later a PIN of a possible location came through. This indicated that they were upriver and halfway up the steep gorge. At that stage Durban’s station commander Jonathan Kellerman’s team was at a river crossing closest to the location. The team decided to split again, with half waiting at the crossing for the other rescue crews, while the other half headed out on the most direct route to find the lost family. Shouting intermittently as they made their way, they eventually made verbal contact with the family around 10pm, confirming that they were heading in the right direction. As they arrived at a small
clearing halfway up the kloof, torchlight
revealed the very fatigued, cold, wet and dehydrated group. After a quick medical assessment, the children were deemed safe. The father, however, was weak and appeared to need medical attention. The crew shared their water and a chocolate bar with the family to help them regain some strength. And they would need it: the terrain and weather conditions wouldn’t allow for a helicopter extraction, so the team would need to walk the family out in the darkness. Marita Minne, a Station 5 crew member, comforted the two-year-old, wrapping her in a space blanket. The little girl clung to her and Marita (a mother herself) made a promise that she would return the child to her mother’s arms. Andrea Passoni, another crew member, assisted the father, while Jonathan and the RescueTech volunteers, Gareth Morgan and Brandon Carr, along with SAPS K9 member Sergeant C Chetty and his dog, Ghost, guided the three teenagers.
SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2021
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RESCUE
SINGULAR FOCUS There was no trail
The crew shared their water and a chocolate bar with the family to help them regain some strength. And they would need it… on her team members to get them down safely. She’d taken her lifejacket off in order to hold the child closer and warm her with her own body heat. One crew member pulled Marita’s feet from below, while another steadied her at her shoulders. She was focused on one thing alone – keeping the child calm and safe.
Rescue crews worked through the night to find and bring the lost family to safety. When they eventually reached the flooded river, it took coordinated teamwork to get everyone across safely. Waiting for them on the other side was a relieved crew and a team of medics – but when Marita tried to hand over the toddler to them, the child screamed and refused to let go. Despite the fatigue of having carried her for two hours, Marita had no choice but to continue doing so. The going was slow, up the steep muddy incline, with the tired crew needing to rest almost every five minutes. Despite all this, there was singing and tickling and telling stories – anything to keep the little one from feeling the stress of the situation. It was almost 4am when they crested the top of the trail, where the joint operations centre had been set up. Marita finally got to fulfil her promise by safely placing the child into the arms of her incredibly relieved mother.
PHOTOGRAPHS: SUPPLIED
– they’d cut a direct route through the dense forest and would now have to slip and slide and crawl back down. Initially the toddler made a valiant effort, wrapping her arm around Marita’s neck, which left Marita with only one arm free to use as they slid downhill. But eventually exhaustion took its toll and Marita had to hold the little girl with both arms and rely
SUPPORT: THE WORLD OF DIFFERENCE The success of this rescue was due to an immense team effort of community services and volunteers. From the RescueTech volunteers who located the casualties by shouting from the top of the gorge to the Sea Rescue crew who raided their cupboards to bring coffee and refreshments to the joint operations centre while the operation was underway. For the team directly involved with the casualties, it made the world of difference to know they had radio support and could count on the backup of Metro paramedics, SAPS search-and-rescue specialists as well as a relief Sea Rescue crew ready to take over. This was no ordinary rescue but a family effort to save a family.
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SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2021
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TECHNOLOGY
EYE IN THE SKY A
S I WALKED INTO the Sea Rescue Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), I saw that Marc De La Porte, the on-duty operator, was bent over the Strand camera monitor. ‘Everything okay?’ I asked him. He did not turn around. I could see he was panning the camera to the left of the area covered by the lifeguard flags. ‘We have a drowning in progress in front of St Tropez,’ he said. ‘Lifeguards are responding, and I have called out Station 9,’ he added, referring to our Gordon’s Bay Sea Rescue crew. The EOC emergency line started ringing, and Marc got up to answer it. I slipped into Marc’s empty chair and took control of the camera. Panning past the flags zone to St Tropez, I could see the Strand lifeguards launching their inshore rescue boat (IRB). It was 15h51 on Thursday 10 December 2020. FAR OUT When the camera was on the St Tropez zone, I zoomed in to look for a rip current, which is the biggest danger in this area. There was nothing. The lifeguards’ IRB appeared in the frame, and I saw it stop and pull a person out of the water. By then it was 15h52. The young woman rescued by the lifeguards was 17 years old. She was about 200m from the beach, and I wondered how on earth anyone had managed 16 |
SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2021
to get so far out. And were there any other casualties? She was swiftly brought to the beach and I watched the IRB being turned around and launching through the surf again. Obviously there was at least one other casualty. As the lifeguards started to run their search patterns, I took the camera back in time. It is programmed automatically to look at eight different zones for 30 seconds at a time, recording all the while. This allows the camera operator to rewind
‘I ran the camera’s recording forward and watched the flash rip dissipating… I now understood what had happened.’
PHOTOGRAPHS: SUPPLIED
CCTV cameras are a new Sea Rescue initiative that uses powerful pan-tilt-zoom technology to monitor beach safety, help lifeguards to prevent drowning tragedies and assist rescue services during operations. Andrew Ingram tells us about the first camera that was used at Strand Beach in Cape Town.
PHOTOGRAPHS: SUPPLIED
and look at the recording of any one of the zones if necessary. Suddenly I saw the rip. Slowly now, going back, I saw that at 15h35 a strong feeder rip had been forming. It had been flowing close to the beach and turned out to sea exactly where three youngsters were playing in the surf. By 15h37 it had become a fully fledged flash rip. From a calm section of beach to a wild rip current in under five minutes – the three children never stood a chance. They had been lifted off their feet and pulled away from the beach. I ran the camera’s recording forward and watched the flash rip dissipating. The sea was back to the calm safe area that it had been 15 minutes before the rip had formed.
I now understood what had happened – and how the children ended up so far from the beach. LAST KNOWN POSITION In the meantime Marc had come back across to the camera monitor. He had a total of seven rescues on the go around the country, all at the same time. It was chaos. This is what NSRI EOC operators are trained for. Working quickly, Marc got Google Earth up on another monitor and as I pointed out the position of the child who was furthest out to sea, he plotted the position. Sliding back to his monitor, Marc communicated the ‘last
known position’ to the rescue crews on the scene. The City of Cape Town Strand Beach lifeguards, led that day by Rebecca Carter-Smith, rescued one child and resuscitated another. The third child’s body was found days later. It was an excellent effort by all the first responders and, thanks to this beach safety camera, we were able to understand how this happened and plot the ‘last known position’ exactly. And, hopefully, now that we understood how and where flash rips form on this beach, we can prevent a tragedy like this from ever happening again. › The Beach Safety Camera project will be expanded to Blouberg Beach in the coming months, followed soon, sponsorship allowing, by all dangerous beaches around the country. SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2021
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S TAT I O N N E W S
Happy birthday,
MOSSEL BAY! Station 15 (Mossel Bay) celebrates its 50th anniversary on 1 May 2021. This milestone is being commemorated with an exciting, emotional and personally charged collection of stories about the station’s history, crew and supportive community. By Wendy Maritz
M
OSSEL BAY HAS A rich story to tell. The history of the settlement as
we know it today dates back to the 15th century when the trailblazing Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias landed at these shores. Although others are said to have sailed along this coastline even earlier, Dias was the first European seafarer that rounded the southern tip of Africa and is credited with opening up the sea passage that would link Europe to the East, making possible the bountiful trade that has lasted ever since. Then, as now, the waters off Southern Africa have thwarted and challenged mariners of all kinds. In fact, Dias himself might not have landed at Mossel Bay if it weren’t for the heavy offshore winds, so typical in this region, that made him overshoot Cape Point and the southern-most tip of the continent completely. 18 |
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This stretch of ocean is notoriously turbulent and dangerous, largely due to the convergence of cold and warm water currents around Cape Agulhas (‘agulhas’ is the Portuguese word for ‘needles’, a reference to the sharp rock formations that line the coast there). Dias achieved what few explorers in his time were able to: navigate the force of two currents that had wrecked the hopes of his seafaring rivals (and often their vessels as well). In the early days, Mossel Bay, initially known as St Blaize, was used as a stopover for bartering fresh produce and water with the resident communities, dropping off mail (the milkwood believed to be the original Post Office Tree remains preserved and is located at the Bartolomeu Dias Museum Complex), as well as the occasional – and unfortunate – ill sailor or two.
The station building was newly painted shortly before Rescue 15 arrived in December 2012.
It was with this in mind that Station 15 station commander André Fraser began ruminating on the idea of preserving the history of the station, told within the wider context of the establishment of Mossel Bay as a town and the NSRI as the first (then inshore) rescue organisation
Mossel Bay crew visit PetroSA for a full-day firefighting course. PRESERVING THE PAST When it comes to history, those who tell the stories are as important as the ones who document them. Contemporary author Sue Monk Kidd said: ‘Stories have to be told or they die, and when they die, we can’t remember who we are or why we’re here.’ It’s a rather lyrical way to describe the importance of recounting events: for the one telling the story, for those listening and for future generations.
in South Africa. He realised that decades of amazing rescues and stories would go untold if the crew or community members who experienced them were no longer with us. The wealth of those experiences would be lost to future generations. The only way to preserve the heritage of the rescue base and, indeed, its influence on the community – and vice versa – would be to write about it, capturing it in book form. This was around 2010. THE MAKING OF A BOOK A few years later, in 2014, André met Dr Jopie Coetzee, a mine engineer, who joined Station 15. It was during his interview that André discovered Jopie was an avid writer. ‘I told him about my idea SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2021
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Top: Learning the ‘ropes’ with the Air Force Oryx crew before having to use them in hoists. Left: Playing ‘musical life-jackets’ – last man with a lifejacket wins!
to write a book about the station’s history,’ André says. Unfortunately, Jopie only stayed in Mossel Bay for three months before being offered a position at a university. Two years later, André was on holiday in Storms River when one of his deputies called him to deliver a ‘strange message’. It was from Jopie: ‘So, how far is your book?’ André was keen to pick up where they had left off, and as soon as he returned home, he called Jopie. ‘I told him, “It’s with great shame that I 20 |
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tum needed to kick-start the project. Jopie was in the process of forming a writers’ guild in Mossel Bay and the two men ‘tossed around a few ideas to get the process going’. The first step, naturally, would be to find writers. Two local writers, Erna Maritz and Luzette Jacobs, and a third living in Wilderness, Anneldi Morkel, were approached to join the project on a pro bono basis. They all agreed without hesitation. The editorial team also included Glenda Maritz and Keith Carey from the station and, of course, André and Jopie. The idea was to research, write and publish the book in time for the 50th anniversary of the station at Mossel Bay. André is very quick to add that the entire station became involved with the project.
PHOTOGRAPHS: SUPPLIED
have to admit it has got no further than when we last spoke,”’ André recalls. But the conversation provided the momen-
S TAT I O N N E W S
Volunteers were invited to contribute accounts of rescues and milestones, as well as memories and photographs. ‘Our station community and the community of Mossel Bay all had a part to play. So much of this book is a reflection of emotional stuff – emotional in that readers will feel the camaraderie, the buy-in, the help, the good faith in people; they’ll know how Sea Rescue assisted the community and how the
Left: The ‘huddle’ formation. Above: Crew ready to serve guests at a centenary fundraiser commemorating the Titanic’s fatal voyage. community has assisted Sea Rescue. It portrays all the good in people.’ The idea of family springs to mind, and this family goes far beyond the base building’s walls.
PHOTOGRAPHS: SUPPLIED
ABOUT MOSSEL BAY 1971-2021 GOLDEN JUBILEE The reader is invited to experience, from a front-row seat, 50 years of miraculous rescues out at sea, personal stories and anecdotes, and other milestones involving boathouse builds and the growth of the station’s assets. This book allows insight into what happens behind the scenes during a rescue, how crew members try to process what may be tragic outcomes – and it is all spoken from the heart and in volunteers’ own words. ‘Members of the community really rallied around the development of the book – with funding, research material, sharing of memories and volunteering professional and creative services,’ notes station commander André Fraser. ‘Mossel Bay 1971-2021 Golden Jubilee is dedicated to the highly trained volunteers who defy the ocean and manage the station with passion and commitment.’ All proceeds from the book’s sales will go towards the station’s new offshore rescue craft (ORC). To find out more and preorder your copy, please contact the publisher at robin@printmatters.co.za
SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2021
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ADVENTURE
K
Around South Africa in
80 Mzanzi Edge Expedition team members at the start of the final leg of their journey. 22 |
SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2021
Most travelled man in Africa. In fact, we can add ‘humanitarian’ to the list too, because all of his expeditions use ‘adventure to improve and save lives’. Each expedition the Kingsley Holgate Foundation undertakes (many of them world firsts) supports one or all of the following causes: malaria prevention, provision of reading glasses, wildlife conservation, early childhood development, clean drinking water and, more recently, during Covid-19, hunger relief. The Mzansi Edge Expedition was an 80-day 14 000km journey tracking the outline of South Africa that took the team through eight provinces, around the border of landlocked Lesotho and along the coast. During their adventure, they canoed the Orange River, traversed the Diamond Coast of the Northern and Western Cape, made 30 river crossings, and visited 52 lighthouses,
DAYS
PHOTOGRAPHS: TREVOR STEENEKAMP NAUTICAL IMAGES
On Friday 5 December 2020, Kingsley Holgate and members of his Mzansi Edge Expedition team stopped off at Station 5 (Durban) at the start of the final leg of their 14 000km journey tracking the entire outline of South Africa. It was a day to remember. By Wendy Maritz
INGSLEY HOLGATE NEEDS LITTLE introduction. Adventurer. Explorer. Author.
PHOTOGRAPHS: TREVOR STEENEKAMP NAUTICAL IMAGES
Left: The calabash has been filled. Below: Kingsley Holgate and Station 5 station commander Jonathan Kellerman.
seven World Heritage Sites and more than 40 nature parks. En route, the travellers collected water from every ocean, river and harbour in a Zulu calabash, the idea being to empty the water into the sea once their journey ended at Kosi Bay – the same place it started in September 2019. Each team member discovered a renewed passion for South Africa’s natural beauty and its people. Their travels took them to remote areas of the country, where they distributed, among others, 250 000 nutritional packs (in conjunction with the Do More Foundation) and spectacles (Rite to Sight). They also shared knowledge about nature conservation and engaged in work at early childhood development centres.
experience for the crew. Kingsley has done amazing stuff over the years.’ The Kingsley Holgate Foundation and Sea Rescue share a common goal, says Helen. ‘We have the same values and core beliefs. We speak with one voice on conservation and
Ian Gourley, one of the expedition members, and Station 5 station commander Jonathan Kellerman are colleagues, and when the expedition was nearing Durban, Ian contacted Jonathan to ask if the station could host Kingsley and his team as they embarked on the final leg of their journey. Jonathan happily agreed and arrangements were made with Helen Wienand, NSRI’s public relations officer and guest speaker for KZN. ‘We met at the station, and gave Kingsley and his team a tour of the base. Kingsley’s son, Ross, put a little harbour water into the calabash and then we took him out to Umhlanga on the offshore rescue craft (ORC). From there, a lifeguard came to fetch him on a jetski and took him to shore,’ Jonathan says. ‘It really was an exciting
saving lives.’ The relationship is one that is set to grow in the future as strength lies in unity. If the Covid-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it’s to work together, look out for each other and share what we have with those around us. We commend Kingsley Holgate and his team – conservationist Richard Mabanga; Kingsley’s son, Ross, and grandson, Tristan; Ian Gourley; Sheelagh Antrobus; and mountain-bike veteran ‘Shova Mike’ Nixon (who rode the entire length of the expedition) – and those who joined at various stages, such as adventure runner David Grier, mountaineer Sibusiso Vilane, who first summited Mount Everest in 2003, and André Bredenkamp. Thank you for allowing Sea Rescue to participate in a small way on that Friday. SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2021
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NSRI BASE LOCATIONS The NSRI is manned by 1 350 volunteers at 42 bases around the country, including five inland dams. Our volunteers have day jobs but will always respond to your emergency.
43 Port Nolloth
NORTHERN CAPE
GENERAL NEEDS › Data projectors and speakers or flat-screen TVs for training › GoPros or similar waterproof devices to film training sessions › Good-quality waterproof binoculars › Prizes for golf days and fundraising events › Towels for casualties › Groceries such as tea, coffee, sugar and cleaning materials › Long-life energy bars › Wet and dry vacuum cleaners › Dehumidifiers › Small generators › Good-quality toolkits › Top-up supplies for medical kits › Waterproof pouches for cellphones › Tea cups/coffee mugs/glasses for events › Training-room chairs
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SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2021
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4 Mykonos
WESTERN CAPE
34 18
3 Table Bay
Knysna
2 16 38 8 10 9 26 Hermanus 42
17
30
15 33
31
23
12 14
35 Witbank Dam
25 Hartbeespoort Dam
27
NORTH WEST 22
MPUMALANGA
Vaal Dam
40
KWAZULU-NATAL
FREE STATE
19
41
Durban 5 39 20 32
In an emergency
call 112
from your cellphone or NSRI Emergency
Operation Centre (EOC)
087 094 9774 EASTERN CAPE 7 East London
11
36
37 21
6 Port Elizabeth
YOU CAN ALSO MAKE A DONATION AND LET US KNOW WHICH RESCUE BASE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT. FOR DEPOSITS AND EFTS: ABSA Heerengracht Branch code: 506 009 Account number: 1382480607 Account holder: National Sea Rescue Institute Swift code: ABSA-ZA-JJ If you choose to do an EFT, please use your telephone number as a unique reference so that we are able to acknowledge receipt, or email your proof of payment to info@searescue.org.za. Visit nsri.org.za/rescue-bases for a detailed map depicting station assets and capabilities.
SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2021
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CLUB K I D S CLUB KIDS We’ve compiled word games and puzzles for you to enjoy. You’ll also have the chance to learn a special code that was introduced almost 200 years ago and is still used today as a way to communicate. And we have important water safety messages for you too.
W A Y T T E R E F A S Can you help us with an A-MAZE-ING problem? Nev is trying to find Peggy. Can you help him? You can use the entry point… And let’s see where it takes you.
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SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2021
How many words can you make from the letters in the word wheel? The main letters make up WATER SAFETY. Can you see? You can leave out some letters, but you’re not allowed to add any new letters. We’ve started for you: 1. Safe 2. ..................................................................... 3. ..................................................................... 4. ..................................................................... 5. .....................................................................
Do you know what Morse Code is? Morse Code was introduced by the American artist and inventor Samuel FB Morse during the 1830s. It is a way of sending a message using dots and dashes with sound or light. A short sound or light flash represents a dot; a long sound or light flash represents a dash. Can you write your name and age using Morse Code?
A B C D E
F
G H
L
I
J
K
M N O P Q R S
T
U
Y Z 0
V W X 1
2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C D E
F
G H
L
I
J
K
M N O P Q R S
T
U
Y Z 0
V W X 1
2 3
Why not make up your own code? For every letter of the alphabet, think of a number or symbol or a different letter. You could have great fun sending notes to your best friend or brother or sister.
4 5 6 7 8 9
SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2020
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Please share this important water safety message with your friends and family. It is very important to be careful around water, especially rivers. Sometimes, after the rain, even small streams can become dangerous. Copy and keep this guide on how to do CPR if someone is not breathing. Place a cloth, T-shirt or towel over the patient’s mouth and nose to prevent infection.
IMPORTANT: 28 |
SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2021
CALL 112 FROM YOUR CELLPHONE
FOR HELP Posture: Keep your shoulders over your hands. Arms: Straight arms, elbows locked. Hands: Place hands in the centre of the chest, just above the nipple line. Push hard and fast in the centre of the chest.
NEVER practise this on a friend. If you want to practise, do so using a pillow or a doll. Never on a person.
Don’t miss the boat! Help us save lives by donating R2 000 towards our new world class rescue craft.
And we will put the name of your loved one on our new boat. John Smith | Orion Black | Fra Nicole Hopkins | Helen Andrew rdo Smith | Paul Dobson | Hen ame | Patrick Atherton | John S m | LOVED ONE’S NAME | N s | Siya Kolisi | Edward Smith | on | Aimee Kitshoff | John Smi ames | Cecilia Way | Nicole Ho es Walton| Edwardo Smith|P
Don’t miss out – space is limited! Donate and secure your name on our boat today. Scan the QR code, visit nsri.co.za or e-mail legacy@searescue.org.za
:02:46
NEWS LIFEGUARD INITIATIVE ROLLS OUT TO WILDERNESS AFTER the lockdown Level 3 beach bans were lifted in January 2021, locals and tourists alike flocked to their favourite spots to enjoy what was left of the summer holidays. One of these places is picturesque Wilderness along the Garden Route. It is, however, also one of the most dangerous stretches of coastline along our shores, evident in the number of fatal drownings that occur and people needing rescue after being pulled out to sea in rip currents.
beach and educate the public. When someone is drowning, every second counts. Having lifeguards on this stretch will undoubtedly reduce response times and effectively save lives. Signage will also be used to warn people of rip currents and to point to safe swimming areas.’ This community initiative does need public support. The lifeguards are leading by example by donating a third of their time each weekend. The cost to sponsor lifeguards for the day is R1 350
It was with the public’s safety in mind that Station 23 (Wilderness) launched a communitysponsored lifeguard project on 27 February that will see lifeguards stationed on Wilderness Beach (from Leentjiesklip to the lagoon mouth and beyond) over weekends and public holidays for 10 weeks, lasting until 2 May. The lifeguards’ focus will be on prevention, anticipating dangers and educating beachgoers about water safety, so they can enjoy their outing, and, importantly, the need for rescue is reduced. The NSRI has also deployed a number of Pink Rescue Buoys along Wilderness Beach. Station 23’s station commander, Garth Dominy, says, ‘Lifeguards will use Sea Rescue’s custom-designed all-terrain vehicle to patrol the
and R2 700 for the weekend. These donations will by virtue support the local economy by encouraging visitors to come and enjoy safe beaches in Wilderness. To donate, please scan either of the codes below. The NSRI is willing to assist any municipality that wants to start its own lifeguard initiative. Please email Liza at lizar@searescue. org.za to find out more.
S ES AERAER SECSUCEUAEUSTPURMI N G2 022012 0 |
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NEWS GERMAN COUPLE TO THE RESCUE ON 11 February, Station 23 (Wilderness) was alerted to a man being swept out to sea in a strong rip current at The Steps near Leentjiesklip on Wilderness Beach. The crew launched their rescue craft while NSRI rescue swimmers raced to the scene. Emergency Medical Services and Eden 911 ambulance service also responded. German couple Björn and Julie von Bismarck happened to be on the beach at the time and realised they had to act quickly to save the man from drowning. Björn, a former German Federal Policeman, grabbed his bodyboard and launched into the water, swimming 100 metres through heavy surf before reaching the man, who was exhausted and barely able to stay afloat. In the meantime, Julie also called the NSRI, who were on their way to the scene, and was able to give them a report of what was happening. Björn helped the man onto his bodyboard and began swimming him towards the shore, but the man kept slipping off from sheer exhaustion. After some time swimming through the heavy surf they reached the shore and safety. NSRI Wilderness and emergency services arrived on the scene, and paramedics assessed the casualty, who was treated for exhaustion and non-fatal drowning symptoms.
Julie and Björn von Bismarck While chatting to the volunteer crew, Björn and Julie mentioned it wasn’t the first time they have been involved in a rescue in the area. Björn had saved a South African man from drowning at the same place in February 2020, and in March 2020, he assisted a few local surfers to rescue an Australian man. The couple, who live in Lübeck in Germany and have a holiday home in Wilderness, are commended for their swift reaction that saved the man from drowning.
ERRATUM OUR sincere apologies to Island View Shipping (IVS) for the misprint that appeared in the Summer 2020 issue of Sea Rescue. We erroneously referred to John Patlanski in the opening paragraph, which should have read: The Island View Shipping (IVS) Annual Golf Day is a major fundraiser for Station 19 (Richards Bay). The initiative was started by the late Tim McClure from IVS, who had a vision to host an annual golfing event in Richards Bay with all the proceeds being donated to the NSRI. 32 |
SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2021
f
THANKS TO EDEN COLLEGE EDEN College in Durban allowed volunteers from Station 5 (Durban) to use its fields and pool to maintain their fitness levels last year. Helen Wienand presented Karen Morrison, head of the college, with a Certificate of Appreciation and each learner was given a copy of Sea Rescue magazine as a token of thanks. Karen Morrison, the head of Eden College, receives her certificate.
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SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2020
| 00
NEWS OFF-DUTY LIFEGUARDS SAVE WOMAN FROM DROWNING ON 13 February, a number of rescue services, including the NSRI, were alerted to a woman in difficulty in the water at Table View Beach. A group of local off-duty lifeguards from Big Bay Surf Lifesaving Club also got the call and responded within minutes. When they arrived on the beach, they saw the woman had already been swept about 200 metres offshore.
Lifeguards Kyle Reynolds and Dylan Lloyd launched into the surf, while Keelen Rix, a City of Cape Town Law Enforcement officer, was also in the surf and swimming towards the casualty. Lifeguard Damian Kennedy grabbed an NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy and he also launched into the surf. They were closely followed by lifeguards Logan Smithers and Wesley Oaks and by NSRI lifeguard Stewart Seini. 34 |
SEA RESCUE SUMMER 2020
Between them they were armed with three rescue torpedo buoys (one of which was the NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy that Damian had taken out with him). Kyle was first to reach the casualty, who was unable to stay afloat any longer. Kyle, Keenan and Dylan supported her and began swimming her towards the shore. At that stage the remaining lifeguards joined them and the rescue torpedo buoys were used as flotation devices. She was brought safely to shore, where she was given medical treatment for non-fatal drowning symptoms, exhaustion and hypothermia. The 24-year-old woman from Bloubergstrand was transported to hospital by Netcare 911 ambulance and she is expected to make a full recovery. NSRI commends Kyle, Dylan, Logan, Wesley, Stewart and Keelen for their swift reaction, which undoubtedly saved the woman’s life. To date 69 people have been assisted to safety through the use of a Pink Rescue Buoy. Visit www.nsri.org.za/pink-rescue-buoys/ to find out more about the NSRI’s Pink Rescue Buoy initiative.
AWARDS
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING AWARD WINNERS In spite of not having a physical awards evening, our crew were honoured all over the country with Long Service, Distinguished and Station Awards.
20 Years Mark Koning / Head Office Andrew de Kock / (Station 10) Simon’s Town Declan Nurse / (Station 12) Knysna Marc May / (Station 21) St Francis Bay Ebrahim Mahboob / (Station 29) Air Sea Rescue Giles Daubney / (Station 3) Table Bay Jaco de Witt / (Station 3) Table Bay Charl Haupt / (Station 31) Still Bay Ashley St-Laing / (Station 5) Durban Justin Erasmus / (Station 6) Port Elizabeth Brett Ayres / (Station 5) Durban and Head Office Roy Pearson / (Station 20) Shelly Beach
Left: Station 39 (Rocky Bay) received the Most Improved Station Award. Above: The Pat O’Sullivan Award – Best Class 1 Station (Station Efficiency Shield) – was awarded to Station 6 (Port Elizabeth). 25 Years with Honorary Life Membership Geoff Harris / (Station 9) Gordon’s Bay Lynne Harris / (Station 9) Gordon’s Bay Garth Shamley / (Station 21) St Francis Bay 30 Years André Fraser / (Station 15) Mossel Bay Marion Spencer / (Station 17) Hermanus 35 Years Michael Saunders / (Station 25) Hartbeespoort Dam SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2021
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AGM Right: Cleeve presents the Marmion Marsh Trophy to Rhine Barnes. Far right: Brad Geyser receives his 45-year Long Service Award.
Above: Station 23 (Wilderness) is given the best RHIB (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat) Station Award. Right: Julian Singh is presented with a Gallantry Bronze Award. 40 Years Phil Ress / (Station 3) Table Bay and Head Office 45 Years Brad Geyser / (Station 8) Hout Bay and Director Head Office Rob Stirrat / (Station 3) Table Bay and Director Head Office 36 |
SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2021
Distinguished Crew Awards Julian Singh / (Station 5) Durban Gallantry Bronze David Hoffman / (Station 5) Durban Gallantry Bronze Pat O’Sullivan Award - Best Class 1 Station (Station Efficiency Shield): (Station 6) Port Elizabeth Most Improved Award (Operations Director Award): (Station 39) Rocky Bay Best RHIB Station Award: (Station 23) Wilderness Region 1 Award: (Station 8) Hout Bay, (Station 26) Kommetjie, (Station 16) Strandfontein, (Station 9) Gordon’s Bay Region 2 Award: (Station 17) Hermanus, (Station 42) Kleinmond Region 3 Award: (Station 23) Wilderness, (Station 12) Knysna Above: Rob Stirrat receives his 45-year Long Service Award. Region 4 Award: (Station 36) Oyster Bay, (Station 37) Jeffreys Bay, (Station 6) Port Elizabeth Region 5 Award: (Station 20) Shelly Beach, (Station 39) Rocky Bay, (Station 40) St Lucia Region 6 Award: (Station 35) Witbank Dam Marmion Marsh Award: Rhine Barnes Alric Simpson Trophy: LEMS Energy Management The Alric Simpson Trophy was awarded to LEMS Energy Management. SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2021
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SPONSOR NEWS DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM DONATES 72 PINK RESCUE BUOYS THE NSRI’s water-safety initiatives have been given a huge boost by the Department of Tourism with the donation of 72 Pink Rescue Buoys and the sponsorship of a lifeguard station in St Helena Bay on the Cape West Coast. Up until December last year, the coastal town had no formal structures in place to keep local and visiting beachgoers safe in the surf. The reported increase in fatal and near drownings among residents and visitors in the area during the summer months, and particularly over the festive season, highlighted the need for water-safety awareness among beachgoers and putting measures in place to assist anyone getting into trouble in the water. NSRI’s Water Safety programme and Lifeguard Unit provide major resources to address both these issues, the main two initiatives being the
ment of Tourism – with the NSRI CEO Dr Cleeve Robertson sponsorship of a lifeguard and Mr Mabandla station at Slippers Bay in St Kelengeshe, Helena Bay, and a generous Chief Directorate: donation of 72 Pink Rescue Communication, Department Buoys, which are now being of Tourism. deployed in areas of need around the country. ‘The proactive initiative to reduce drownings as well as create awareness about water safety fits well with our commitment to enhance our tourist offerings and the promotion of responsible tourism in destinations,’ explains Blessing Manale, Chief Director: Department of Tourism. ‘The idea behind the project is to get emergency flotation to anyone who is in danger of drowning as fast as possible while calling for professional help.’ More than 850 Pink Rescue Buoys have been installed around South Africa and more than 69 lives have been saved through their use.
deployment of Pink Rescue Buoys to drowning hotspot areas around the country and the establishment of lifeguard stations at previously unlifeguarded beaches. Both initiatives received a major boost in December 2020 – thanks to the Depart-
‘We would like to thank the Department of Tourism for its sponsorship of Pink Rescue Buoys and for extending our drowning prevention initiatives in the St Helena Bay area,’ says NSRI CEO Dr Cleeve Robertson.
OUR INTEGRATED REPORT WINS MERIT AWARD THE annual NSRI Integrated Report received a merit award in the NPO/NGO category at the Chartered Governance Integrated Reporting Awards. ‘Covid-19 has certainly challenged non-profits in South Africa and the NSRI has not escaped the challenges of the pandemic,’ commented NSRI CEO Dr Cleeve Robertson. ‘The trust in our work and organisation by thousands of donors, underpinned by a strong culture of governance, has sustained us and ensured we are still able to deliver essential services, medical evacuations from ships at sea and rescues in the surf and seas. Good governance systems are an essential foundation of donor support and confidence.’ Our grateful thanks go to our Strategic Partner DHL for sponsoring the printing of our Integrated Report.
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SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2021
P L AT I N U M PA R T N E R S
S T R AT E G I C PA R T N E R S
GOLD PA R T N E R S A&M Logistics / Afritech Equipment Solutions (Pty) Ltd / AMSOL / Cyclone Engineering Projects (Pty) Ltd / Damen Shipyards Cape Town (Pty) Ltd / Denso SA (Pty) Ltd / Freddy Hirsch Group / Höegh Autoliners (Pty) Ltd / Komicx Products (Pty) Ltd / Marsh Marine (Pty) Ltd / MiX Telematics International (Pty) Ltd / NCS Resins / Producer Ally (Pty) Ltd / RF Design / Resolve Salvage & Fire (Pty) Ltd / Richards Bay Coal Terminal / Ruwekus Fishing (Pty) Ltd / Sea Harvest Corporation (Pty) Ltd / Striker Fishing Enterprises (Pty) Ltd / Marlyn Vulindlela (Pty) Ltd / Two Oceans Aquarium Trust
GRATEFUL THANKS TO ‘OLD FRIEND’ AND PLATINUM PARTNER, VODACOM AFTER more than two decades of support, the NSRI formally welcomed Vodacom on board as a Platinum Partner in 2020 in recognition of everything the company has done and continues to do to enable Sea Rescue to do what we need to do – save lives, change lives and create futures. ‘Vodacom supports us over a network of almost 50 stations across the country,’ CEO Dr Cleeve Robertson says. ‘The latest addition to our suite of services is the SafeTRX rescue app, delivered, of course, through Vodacom, free to users from the iStore or Google Play Store.’ Vodacom’s support of Sea Rescue also included part sponsorship of a number of vessels. To date, Vodacom’s name is carried with considerable pride to the NSRI on seven vessels named Vodacom Rescuer, as well as Spirit of Vodacom, and Vodacom SurfJet, the latter housed at Station 9 (Gordon’s Bay). And from 2006 to 2008, a joint venture between the NSRI, Vodacom, Netcare 911 and SA Lifesaving saw a surf rescue helicopter solution deployed along the coastline. ‘Vodacom has been a wonderful partner, loyal donor and a friend to all the people we rescue! Salute!’ Dr Robertson concludes.
THANK YOU FOR THE DONATIONS RECEIVED IN MEMORY OF: Maureen Polasek / Geoff Sonnenberg / Gordon Smart (former volunteer at Station 6 [Port Elizabeth]) / Hilary Southgate IN HONOUR OF: Basil Murray (90th birthday)
SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2021
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W AT E R S A F E T Y
DROWNING
IS SILENT
Following a surge in fatal drownings during the middle of February, we’re once again urging members of the public to please take care in or near water, and ask that caregivers and parents keep an eye on children at the beach, at dams and rivers, and at home.
A
CCORDING TO STATISTICS SOUTH Africa, fatal drowning is the fifth leading cause of unintentional death in the country, with an estimated 600 children affected each year. Many of these fatal drownings could be prevented if there was a responsible, able-bodied person watching the children when they were in or near water, and if they were able to recognise the signs of drowning. Drowning is silent. It’s not what you see in the
discouraged from swimming at beaches, dams and rivers if there are no lifeguards on duty to help them if they get into trouble.
movies. There’s no waving of arms or cries for help. It’s a sobering reality that someone may drown in plain sight, sinking below the water’s surface within seconds. ‘When people are drowning, all of their energy is going into trying to breathe and staying above water,’ says NSRI’s Head of Water Safety, Andrew Ingram. ‘They are not yelling for help or waving their hands around. Drowning is often quick and totally silent.’ Another sobering reality is that most fatal drownings affecting children under the age of five occur at or near the home. Washing basins, baths and swimming pools are danger zones where small children should never be allowed unsupervised. Older children should also be reminded of the dangers they face near water and should be
watch the children in or near the water. The tag should then be passed to another responsible adult after half an hour. ‘The priority is to have somebody dedicated to physically watching those who are swimming, not distracted by their phone or conversations with others. Taking your eyes off children, even for a few seconds, can be fatal,’ Andrew cautions. Download the Swimming Monitor tag at https://bit.ly/30wizli.
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SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2021
Select a Swimming Monitor We’ve developed an ‘On Duty Swimming Monitor’ tag to avoid confusion as to who should be watching the children while they swim. Print it out, laminate it and add a lanyard. The person who is on duty should do nothing else except
Be aware of the signs of drowning Drowning can occur in seconds, Andrew warns, so ‘a more widespread understanding of what a person experiencing swimming distress looks like would help to save lives’.
Here are the seven warning signs that someone is drowning: 1. The person struggles to keep their face above the water in an effort to breathe – their head is low in the water, tilted back and the mouth is at water level. 2. Their body is in a vertical or upright position. There is no supportive kicking and it appears as if they are bobbing. 3. The person’s arms are extended to the side, pressing down for support. 4. They may continue to struggle underwater but don’t make any headway, often facing the nearest point of safety, for example land, a person, shallow water, a buoyant support toy or a boat. 5. Their eyes will be panicked or wide, appearing big, glassy and empty, and unable to focus. 6. The person is incapable of responding to the question ‘Are you okay?’ 7. Silence
KNOW WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY Call 112 from your cellphone or 10177 from a landline. After you’ve called for help, please begin bystander CPR. Step-by-step instructions on how to perform Covid-19-safe CPR is provided on the back of the Swimming Monitor tag. Go to https://bit. ly/30wizli to download the Swimming Monitor tag.
SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2021
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RESCUE
I
T’S NOT UNCOMMON TO seek out adventure. If anything, danger is half of the attraction.
And when you see video clips of other people’s adventures on social media, it might make you think, ‘I should do that; it looks like fun!’ But, unfortunately, viral videos on Instagram only tell half the story. You see a guy jump from a crane 20m above the ocean, come up to the surface and shout to his friends that he did it… You don’t see the rescue services being activated or him being secured in a Kendrick extrication device with a suspected spinal injury – in fact, three cracked vertebrae, as later confirmed by an X-ray.
You don’t know that, just the week before, a female had fractured her femur in two places at the same site. Luckily it wasn’t a compound fracture and no bones protruded from the skin. Miraculously none of her arteries were severed – if they had been, she might have succumbed to her injuries before rescue services could get to her. She stoically managed excruciating pain as the rescuers splinted her leg and assisted her safely to the waiting Sea Rescue vessels. The boats can’t get close to the rocks because of a mass of twisted rusted metal from the wreck that sits just below the surface. The swell
DANGER ZONE
It can take rescuers up to 20 minutes to get to the Bos 400 wreck, as there is no land access for vehicles.
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SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2021
PHOTOGRAPHS: CRAIGMCIVER, SPENCER OLDHAM
Sea Rescue crew were called out to the Bos 400 wreck three times in under a month to assist casualties who had injured themselves. We cannot urge the public enough to stay away from this area. It’s life threatening for all concerned. Cherelle Leong tells us why.
waves that tumbled him over the rocks. The more he tried, the more the waves washed over him, until his friends, seeing he was in danger, jumped in and helped get him back onto the rocks. By the time Sea Rescue volunteers arrived on the scene, he was hypothermic, had multiple bruises and scratches and was visibly shaken from his ordeal. The Bos 400 is a very unstable 30-year-old wreck. There’s a gully between the wreck and the rocky shore where large sets of waves wash through. The vessel’s helipad, which had collapsed in 2010, lies just below the surface, along with sharp twisted pieces of metal that protrude at odd angles. There is no road access by land, only a steep unmarked path, and cellphone and radio signals are intermittent. To get there by sea
The boats can’t get close to the rocks because of a mass of twisted rusted metal from the wreck that sits just below the surface.
PHOTOGRAPHS: CRAIGMCIVER, SPENCER OLDHAM
crashing through pulls in all directions, creating wash and white water. Rescue crews have to time it just right to swim to shore, working with the swell to ensure they don’t get pulled into an area where they could get snagged on a section of the submerged wreck. Sea Rescue coxswains and crew are trained to operate safely in these challenging conditions, all too aware of how quickly things can go wrong. People who are unfamiliar with the area are not only putting their own lives at risk but also those of the rescue volunteers who have to come to their aid when things don’t go according to plan. Like when Sea Rescue was activated to the site of the Bos 400 wreck for the third time in under a month – this time for a drowning in progress. A youngster had jumped into the sea from the rocks and gone for a swim. But when he tried to get back to shore he was overcome by a set of
from the nearest Sea Rescue stations takes at least 20 minutes in good weather conditions. If you need help at this location, it’s going to take a while for rescue services to get to you. Sea Rescue is appealing to the public to avoid swimming near or trying to access the wreck of the Bos 400. These three rescues fortunately happened to have had good outcomes, but it may not be the case next time. SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2021
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ANIMAL RESCUE
CREATURES great and (very) small
During December 2020 and January and February this year, NSRI volunteers responded to assist a number of animals in distress. By Wendy Maritz ABANDONED BABIES On Tuesday 12 January, Station 3 (Table Bay) volunteers were asked by SANCCOB (Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) to help in an ongoing rescue operation involving the evacuation of a large number of Cape cormorant chicks that appeared to have been abandoned by the adults in the colony on Robben Island. SANCCOB rangers on the island were monitoring the situation and grew concerned for the babies’ wellbeing when the parents failed to return. They had also started becoming easy prey for kelp gulls and ibises. A decision was made to intervene, and additional SANCCOB rangers, along with staff from the Two Oceans Aquarium and the Robben Island Museum, began gathering the chicks into boxes to be brought to SANCCOB for care and protection. When the request for assistance came in, Station 3 launched Spirit of Vodacom, with a SANCCOB ranger on board, and on arrival at the island were guided to its northern side to begin collecting the chicks. A total of 128 chicks, loaded 44 |
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into 16 boxes, were brought to Murray’s Bay Harbour, loaded onto Spirit of Vodacom and taken to the base. From there the birds were taken to SANCCOB for further care. The reasons for the abandonment are not clear, but it’s believed that declining stocks of small fish in the area have affected breeding cycles in the Cape cormorant as well as other marine bird colonies. Sadly, Cape cormorants are considered endangered because there has been a steep decline in numbers over the last three generations. SANCCOB’s Cape Town centre in Table View is caring for 1 170 Cape cormorant chicks, and staff are hoping to get them as healthy as possible before returning them to the wild. This avian rescue operation was the largest one undertaken in the Western Cape since the oil spill of the MV Treasure in 2020.
JUVENILE VULTURE FREED Hartbeespoort Dam, known for its resort towns
ABOUT A DONKEY A few days after Christmas last year, Station 22 (Vaal Dam) was alerted to a lone donkey stranded on a small island near Deneysville on the Vaal Dam. The crew launched their rescue craft Harvey’s Fibreglass to investigate. They figured out that the donkey must have wandered off when the water level was low a few weeks before and was unable to return to the mainland once the level rose. Station commander Jake Manten called in the help of a vet from Villiers Veterinary Hospital, who was brought to the island and confirmed the donkey was stressed and malnourished. ‘We brought our crock and a specialised stretcher to the scene. The donkey was tranquilised and loaded very carefully onto the stretcher and then into the crock,’ says Jake. ‘We used a larger rescue vessel to tow the crock back to the mainland, where the donkey was reunited with its human family. They were delighted to have it back.’ The animal had been missing for four weeks and might have succumbed to exposure had it not been spotted and rescued.
and leisure activities, is plagued by an invasion of water hyacinth, an aquatic plant native to South America, that covers about 30% of the water’s surface. On Christmas Eve, concerned bystanders noticed a vulture trapped in this dense foliage. After their attempts to free it failed, they called the NSRI to assist. Crew launched Rotary Endeavor to investigate. Station commander Arthur Crewe explains the rescue craft had to negotiate its way through 900m of dense water hyacinth growth before reaching the bird, which they found entangled in fishing line and trapped among the plants. ‘We were able to cut the vulture free. While we were busy, the exhausted animal barely put up any resistance. It tried to fly away but was too tired. It landed in the water and drifted, unable to get airborne,’ says Arthur. ‘Three rescue swimmers entered the water and helped corral the bird to the shore.’ The local vulture protection and conservation organisation Vulpro was asked to step in and arrived to take the vulture, whom they confirmed was about four months old, into their care for rehabilitation.
SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2021
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The
BRAINY BUNCH The intelligence of octopuses is well documented. What is perhaps less well known is where this intelligence comes from. Naturalist Georgina Jones explains some theories around these fascinating creatures, including the role their relatively short lifespans play.
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O
CTOPUSES ARE SUPERBRIGHT. There’s plenty of evidence of their intelligence too. Take the aquarium where sharks kept turning up dead and partially eaten in the mornings. As it happened, the octopus sharing their tank was using its camouflage skills and the exhibit’s rocks to ambush the sharks, wrestle them belly up to paralyse them, and then eat its fill. Octopuses in captivity have been shown to be capable of working out how to unscrew lids,
ENVIRONMENT
for developing intelligence. Also, that a bigger
Supremely flexible, octopus arms can extend into crevices to grab prey or curl into graceful spirals in aid of overall camouflage.
even when inside the lidded container. They can distinguish between individual people, and will clamber out of their tanks towards favoured keepers, and squirt water at keepers they dislike. The water squirting trick has also been used to short out annoying overhead lights. They can use coconut shells as armour, and their adaptable skins to mimic other animals with astonishing accuracy. They’ve been filmed getting at bait kept in a container secured with multiple cable ties, all while holding off interested shysharks; and of course there’s the local octopus that successfully hid from a hungry pyjama catshark by hastily assembling a protective shelter of shells. Given their decidedly non-brainy relatives, snails, slugs, limpets, clams and mussels, octopuses and, indeed, the cephalopods (including squid and cuttlefish) are strangely bright. Most signs of intelligence are found in longlived social species such as dolphins, elephants, apes, parrots and crows. Humans too. It is thought that needing to manage the complexities of social interactions has been a powerful driver
brain takes time to grow, and helps animals avoid danger and therefore tends to both require and result in a longer lifespan. But cephalopods aren’t like that. In almost all species, they are solitary, and more, many species are known to be cannibals if given the chance. Even in the few species that are found in groups, the sort of family bonds seen in gorillas or whales do not exist. Also in most cases, they are short lived. Clearly, big brains do not need time to grow. Most octopuses live for less than two years and usually die after reproducing. Even more intriguingly, there are signs of a loss of intelligence once mating has occurred. Post-mating male octopuses seem to develop a sort of dementia and soon die. Female octopuses stop hunting once they have laid their eggs, and slowly starve while devoting the remainder of their lives to caring for their developing brood. They keep predators away from the eggs, blow aerated water over them and prevent encrusting growths. This lack of interest in feeding once the eggs have been laid may be a species imperative to stop the mother octopus from feeding on her own young and seems to be driven by hormonal changes. So parental care seems not to be a driver for intelligence development, at least not in octopuses. Instead, research suggests that cephalopod intelligence may have been driven by the loss of their shells. Possibly due to competition with fishes, the shelled ancestors of octopuses may have needed to become faster in the water or to retreat to greater depths. Their shells would have been a disadvantage and were gradually lost. Around the same time, ancestral octopuses developed the ability to use jet propulsion to move and also SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2021
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ENVIRONMENT
acquired the means to produce camouflaging inks. Not having a shell allowed octopuses to extend their bodies into crevices to hunt new and varied prey. Greater intelligence allowed octopuses to take advantage of this extended range of foraging options. Having flexible bodies probably affected the distribution of their nerve cells as well. Nearly three-quarters of octopus nerve cells are distributed between their eight arms and research shows that the arms can act independently of the brain, improving response time to threats or opportunities. It’s a very different setup to the top-down model known in vertebrates. It seems likely that the ability of octopuses to change their skins’ colour and texture as well as their body shape developed along with the gradual loss of the shell. This would have been important, because losing their shells meant the loss of their defensive retreat. Without 48 |
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a shell, an octopus is a prime source of protein to almost every group of marine predators. Octopus intelligence may well have been driven to develop by the necessity of escaping from incessant predation. Without social bonds or the need to pass on skills, the life of an octopus revolves around hunting, escaping, finding a mate and then reproducing. Their brains develop fast, and once they have produced their descendants, their brains, so far as can be observed, are not required any further. Octopuses live fast and die young. Their intelligence is profoundly alien to ours, and would be fascinating to properly understand, emerging, as it does, from very different roots.
PHOTOGRAPHS: GEORGINA JONES
Left: An octopus in its lair with the remains of a mussel for a shield. Below: This tiny octopus has made an abandoned shell its home. Bottom: A rare glimpse of an octopus in the open.
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