LETTERS

I’VE been watching the surf, and the period seems so long now that maybe the fifth wave isn’t coming – wouldn’t that be nice? You’ll all agree that the past two years have been awkward at best and that it’s way beyond the time for ‘ops normal’. The NSRI has been ‘ops usual’ for some time now, as expressed in our 2021 data, which shows how busy we were despite Covid-19 and the impact of the lockdown.

We saved almost 1 000 lives last year, and our lifeguard season delivered 120 saves and more than 2 000 preventative interventions. The Pink Rescue Buoy programme has by now been involved directly in the saving of 109 lives thanks to more than 1 000 deployments of these public rescue devices. A busy year across all activities, once again demonstrating the commitment of our volunteers and thousands of stakeholders.

The volunteer community and NSRI management have reflected on the support services we have had to provide in 2021, and we are sincerely humbled by a community of stakeholders that delivered R170m in direct funding, R15m in gifts-in-kind and immeasurable moral and motivational energy! The loyalty and consistency of our support, particularly during the pandemic, are amazing. I like to think that we’ve repaid and respected that faith by delivering services whenever needed and of a quality that honours the sacrifices made. We know there is a broad ownership of the NSRI by all stakeholders, something we value and appreciate.

Not only have we maintained our operational response and preventative efforts, we also continue to invest in capital projects and our human capital to guarantee future sustainability. We have invested in the wellbeing of our volunteers and staff by contracting Life Healthcare to provide a comprehensive wellness programme across the country. The programme not only provides immediate medical advice and access to care but also provides assistance across a range of life’s screwballs! With our focus on people in 2022, this initiative is an important step. Our boat-build programme continues unabated (we are currently constructing ORC number five); our base-build programme expands daily; and we have most recently cleared ground at Kei River, and are nearly completed at Oyster Bay.

We are very bullish about the year ahead and the future, and the morale within the institute is buoyant… floated, really, if you’ll excuse the pun, by you guys out there – thank you.

See you at the AGM in Knysna in July!

DR CLEEVE ROBERTSON, CEO

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

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NSRI

OFFICE +27 21 434 4011 WEB www.nsri.org.za FUNDRAISING AND MARKETING DIRECTOR Janine van Stolk janine@searescue.org.za MARKETING MANAGER Bradley Seaton Smith bradley@searescue.org.za COMMUNICATIONS & PR MANAGER Kuhle Mkize kuhle@searescue.org.za

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WINNING LETTER

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

AN ENCOUNTER WITH A FREIGHTER

A story I ought not to share with you, but…

A couple of years ago I headed off from Milnerton Lagoon Mouth to the Waterfront by kayak, alone and without advising anyone (naughty, naughty).

I was aware of a freighter moored close, off Robben Island, and was in relaxed ‘public holiday’ mode.

When I had covered about 50% of the distance, I noted smoke from the funnel of said freighter and adjusted my application to ‘focused’ mode.

I made good ground, but I suspect that the pilot seeing the freighter in took offense at me intruding in his territory and he put his foot down (or whatever they do on freighters).

I further adjusted my mode to as close as I might to ‘olympic’ mode. Not being a complete idiot, I eventually began to remember that I am a poor swimmer – so I sat upright, held my paddle above my head and signified defeat.

What remains strongly fixed in my mind is the disturbed water aft of the freighter that contained an absolute mass of plastic, approximately the size of a rugby field (I recognised a Pick n Pay packet, for one).

I did get to the Waterfront in one piece, though… and back. (Maybe I ought to have stayed on land as my name suggests!) PETER LOVLAND

WRITE TO US AND WIN!

The writer of the winning letter published in the Winter 2022 issue of Sea Rescue will receive an NSRI hoodie. Email your letters to info@searescue.org.za or post them to Sea Rescue magazine, PO Box 15054, Vlaeberg 8018. (Letters may be shortened and the winning letter is chosen at the editor’s discretion.)

KUDOS TO NSRI LIFEGUARDS... AT J-BAY

On 19 December I went to the main beach at Jeffreys Bay. The water seemed unusually cold that day, and after diving into a wave, my chest closed up and I had a severe asthma attack. I couldn’t make my way to shore, and was unable to get air into my lungs. I did remember one thing: to raise my arm. I did so and then saw that a lifeguard had seen me and was reacting. I was pulled out of the water and my family was able to get me my asthma pump. Twenty seconds later, I was able to breathe and recover, and the colour returned to my face.

My purpose of writing is to thank all the lifeguards involved. They carried out their duties in a professional and calming manner. To the lifeguards, the people who manage them, the people who recruited them and the people who trained them: thank you. GORDON CUDMORE

Turn to page 16 to read the full story.

... AND AT SEDGEFIELD

On Thursday 30 December 2021, we went swimming at the lagoon mouth in Sedgefield. After we went in, the water suddenly became very rough and I, my husband and our five-year-old daughter were stranded, unable to get back to safety by ourselves. I would like to personally thank Leith, the NSRI lifeguard who assisted us. He did an absolutely outstanding job, especially with my daughter – he pretended we were in a waterslide. Afterwards, my daughter couldn’t stop talking about the ‘best day of her life’ with lifeguard Leith. She did not even notice the danger as he kept talking to her and distracting her.

Thank you, Leith, for your exceptional service and to Xolani, too. Thank you so much for keeping our beaches safe. NADIA VAN DER WALT

Turn to page 38 to read the full story.

HOME FOUND FOR RESCUED DOG

Station 25 (Hartbeespoort Dam) station commander Arthur Crewe was pleased to share the news that ‘Sea Legs’, the dog that was rescued from drowning in the dam on Friday, 17 September, has been adopted by long-time NSRI supporters. Sea Legs was placed in the care of Hartbeespoort Animal Welfare Society (HAWS) where she stayed for several months before her adoption. We are all very pleased this story has a happy ending and thank the crew for saving her.