NSRI Sea Rescue Spring 2020

SEA RESCUE R14.95 | SPRING 2020 | FREE TO NSRI MEMBERS

WE NEVER STOPPED

WORKING

CONTENTS 14 2 LETTERS

SPRING 2 02 0

34 24 A NEW WAY OF DOING THINGS More about the new automated-workflow technology that has streamlined crew management and governance at Station 8.

38 ON THE LINE We highlight the importance of crew support and counselling.

WORKING’ We discover how NSRI has adapted to the new normal.

28 IN THE NEWS Fundraising drives, events, and station and sponsor news.

43 STATION DIRECTORY

20 THE SEA HAD OTHER PLANS How SafeTRX and a quick rescue response saved the day for a paddler thrown off course.

34 BETWEEN A ROCK...

A challenging stretch of rocky coastline near Herold’s Bay made for the dramatic rescue of a hiker on Father’s Day.

22 KIDS’ CLUB Meet Nev and Peggy, and discover their important water-safety messages.

36 TRICKY BUSINESS Agulhas crew undertake their first whale disentanglement.

8 FROM THE FRONTLINE Sea Rescue volunteers share their stories about working in essential services.

40 ISLAND ROCK STARS The secret lives of rockhopper penguins.

14 ‘WE NEVER STOPPED

40

SAVING LIVES. CHANGING LIVES. CREATING FUTURES. SEA RESCUE SPRING 2020

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FROM THE HELM S

PRING IS UPON us and hopefully

to new PPE regimes… The list goes on. And so, despite the anxiety and challenges to wellbeing,

Covid-19 is in its autumn!

Certainly this year has been unprecedented and all of you will probably be glad to see the back of it. However, rust never sleeps, as they say, and by necessity everyone at Sea Rescue has been busier than ever!

I’ve been buoyed by the swell of activity among our staff and volunteers, who, through pure passion and enthusiasm, have innovated and created their way through the year to maintain and deliver the life-saving services expected of us. We have been busy operationally, with more medevacs in six months than we usually have in a year (lots of coronavirus cases), as well as a constant stream of rescues, more online training than ever before and plenty of whale disentanglements!

All in a constrained environment and, let me say, fortunately with very little in the way of Covid-19 infections among us. We’ve been surprised by the demand for our services when things were ‘locked down’.

Crises often bring out the best in people and

the community around Sea Rescue has collectively supported one another and wrestled through positively, enthusiastically! As they would say, ‘It’s what we do.’

Sadly we’ve had to delay our AGM and awards – always a great evening of celebration – but we’ll catch up again and make sure that our stakeholders and volunteers receive the essential recognition they deserve. Our Integrated Report 2019 is probably the best ever, so get a copy online from our website and read it cover to cover. You’ll note that our auditors’ report is a testimony to our governance structures and our commitment to transparency and stakeholder accountability.

Lastly, we recognise the huge challenges within our economy and the need to keep people working and so we’ve made extraordinary efforts not to retrench staff, to support volunteers and to keep our projects moving forward so that they keep people employed and to play our part, in however small a way, in keeping people alive. Saving lives is our mantra, directly through our services but also

we’ve certainly seen our donors rally behind us.

Volunteers are responsive as ever and staff are flexible, adapting to business abnormal. Everyone has repositioned and adjusted, and remain committed despite the catastrophes. Our Call Centre staff operated from home for two months; training staff shifted content online through webinars; water-safety educators went live on radio in vernacular languages; and medical staff adapted

through our social and economic contribution.

It’s wonderful that our beaches are open again.

Heaven knows we need the fresh air in more ways than one.

Stay safe out there!

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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SEA RESCUE SPRING 2020

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THE CREW THE PUBLISHING PARTNERSHIP: MANAGING EDITOR Wendy Maritz ART DIRECTOR Ryan Manning COPY EDITOR Christine de Villiers BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Nic Morkel EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Mark Beare PRODUCTION DIRECTOR John Morkel MANAGING DIRECTOR Susan Newham-Blake ADDRESS PO Box 15054, Vlaeberg 8018

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SEA RESCUE SPRING 2020

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LETTERS SEA RESCUE R14.95 | SPRING 2020 | FREE TO NSRI MEMBERS

WE NEVER STOPPED

WORKING READ OUR COVER STORY ON PAGE 14.

PHOTOGRAPH: SIMON MCDONNELL

For NSRI membership or Sea Rescue subscription details: Email info@searescue.org.za or call 021 434 4011

4 |

SEA RESCUE SPRING 2020

WINNING LETTER Thank you, Richard, for sharing your story with us.

Your book and hoodie are on their way.

BOOK OF TREASURES It was with great pleasure and a sense of synchronicity that I read, on Youth Day, in your Autumn edition, that George and Margo Branch’s magnificent book Living Shores has been updated and republished. Just a few days before that we hauled out our trusty and rather battered edition of the book to verify that we had seen a wonderful collection of chitons in the rock pools at Dalebrook Tidal Pool, Kalk Bay. I am a retired school principal and former volunteer at the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town. A highlight of my year was to take the Grade 2 classes on a beach study and rock pool exploration. Naturally part of the fun was the identification of seaweeds and creatures we discovered on our explorations with the help of Living Shores.

From time to time I am reminded by those same Grade 2 pupils, now adults with children of their own, of the impact that experience had had on them. It seemed to have awakened an abiding curiosity and respect in them for our wonderful living shore.

Some of the children wrote letters to me, telling me what the experience meant to them. I have kept these inside my copy of Living Shores.

I am so grateful that I was able to have the opportunity to share my love of our coastline with young people. It does my heart good to read in your publication of the focus on young people and the difference they can and do make.

My grateful thanks to NSRI for the vital role you all play in our society. I am glad to have been able to support your worthy cause in a small way over the years and hope to do so for many years to come.

RICHARD FREEDMAN

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SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2020

| 00

LETTERS A PADDLE TO REMEMBER On Saturday 18 July, my wife, Isabella, and I

After 34km and some six hours of paddling, we were just 7km short of our final finish point when

undertook a challenging surfski paddle from the Langebaan Yacht Club around Saldanha Bay and its harbour.

As this trip would involve crossing 3km of open sea at the North and South Heads, with notoriously rough swells and strong winds, I got hold of Mike Shaw, station commander at Mykonos, and asked whether the NSRI could be of assistance with this tricky crossing. Immediately he was positive about our trip and when I mentioned the date on which we hoped to do the paddle, he told us that the NSRI national training team were going to be at Mykonos that day, and that support for our trip could be incorporated into their training.

We met up with Mike, national training officer Graeme Harding and some members of the NSRI team the night before to plan and prepare for the next day. Early on Saturday Isabella and I took off from Langebaan Yacht Club and right away we knew we were not in for an easy time. The northwester was blowing in our faces and even close

my back gave in and we had to call it a day. The NSRI training team came to our rescue and lifted us to the safety of the Mykonos station, where a hot coffee and homemade rusks were waiting.

Isabella and I want to say a big thank you to Mike, Graeme and the entire NSRI team that day for their wonderful attitude and extremely professional approach. We never could have managed this adventure without them.

WILLIAM HART

to the shore the swell was becoming daunting.

When we reached the meeting point at the heads it was touch and go but, with the NSRI team giving us confidence, we went for it. After a few hundred metres Isabella was taking a different tack to mine and soon we were a kilometre apart.

Fortunately, Graeme had arranged for two boats to follow us, so both of us felt comfort knowing assistance was close at hand.

We eventually got to a point on the far side, but the swell and the breakers at the harbour entrance were a bit more than we wanted to take on at that stage. The NSRI guys helped us with a quick lift into the entrance of the harbour and put us down out of harm’s way to enable us to complete the circumnavigation of the bay.

was a member and made a contribution every month. I loved reading the Sea Rescue magazines and watching videos about training and rescues. I decided to get myself a yellow NSRI rash vest and I proudly wore it when we went to Plett that year.

One day when I got out of the water after an amazing swim, a little girl, who looked rather upset, and her mother approached me. Before I could ask what was wrong, the mother said her daughter had lost her swimming goggles in the lagoon and she was wondering whether I could help them look for it. Obviously I did so. After about 15 minutes of looking for the goggles, I found them stuck between two rocks. The mother and her now very happy daughter thanked me, and I walked off. That’s when I looked down and

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SEA RESCUE SPRING 2020

THE YELLOW RASH VEST Since I was little, my family and I have been going to Plettenberg Bay during the December holidays.

I was always aware of the NSRI station on Main Beach, but I had thought it was only a building where boats and other ocean vessels were held.

That was until two years ago when I was on a school trip in Cape Town and spotted an NSRI pop-up shop at the airport. I got myself an NSRI cap and, as soon as I was back at home, I started reading about the NSRI. I found out that my mom

WRITE TO US AND WIN! approached by the mother and daughter because I was wearing that rash vest.

Last year when we were in Plett, I got to take part in the NSRI fun run, and it was the coolest thing ever to get a Sea Rescue tattoo on my arm, and eventually a Sea Rescue medal that now hangs on my wall.

The ocean is a beautiful place but can be dangerous and if it weren’t for the NSRI, a lot of people wouldn’t want to swim in it out of fear.

Thank you for keeping the water safe. I admire the bravery of every person in the NSRI and how you risk your lives on a daily basis. I have such a deep respect for you. May you conquer all of the stormy seas you will face.

JENNA VOLSCHENK

The writer of the winning letter published in the Summer 2020 issue of Sea Rescue will receive a hoodie and a copy of Nights Skies of Botswana

by Stephen O’Meara.

This easy-to-use guide is ideal for beginner and amateur stargazers, as all stars described can be seen with the naked eye.

Botswana’s ancestral stories about the stars are scattered throughout the book. Stephen O’Meara is a writer, photographer and videographer for National Geographic.

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.)

Crisis Management

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2020

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VOLUNTEERS

NSRI volunteers working in essential and medical services share their stories about how life has changed for them during the Covid-19 lockdown. Compiled by Wendy Maritz

FROM THE

FRONTLINE M

Y journey with NSRI started in August 2008.

I was passing by the Strandfontein rescue

and equipment to rescue bases nationally and to international supporters. It is here that I can make

base and stopped. I saw the rescue vehicle and a neatly dressed person who turned out to be the station commander. My dad, who passed away in July this year, was with me when I received my crew badge in December 2013, after five years of training. I have never looked back. Today I am proud to be a trainee coxswain Class 4 surf launch candidate. As a trainee coxswain, I teach the trainee crews about crew safety, accountability, and the skills to perform when others cannot.

Everything we do to achieve our vision of ‘It’s what we do’ and all it symbolises takes sacrifice, family, time, dedication and discipline.

I am blessed to further my calling to work as the NSRI storeman, responsible for the storage and shipping of a wide variety of operational gear

a difference to volunteers and supporters alike.

At the start of Level 5 lockdown, an immediate need for PPE was clear, so our team at Head Office formulated and expedited a plan to confront an unknown enemy. Our procurement officer, Aasimah Ismail, took drastic measures to secure sanitisers, masks and gloves as stocks were depleting everywhere. My fellow crewman and colleague Grant Grove worked side by side with me collecting and shipping the valuable, lifesaving cargo to our 43 rescue bases during difficult, trying times.

Working in uncertain environments is normal for us, so to work through the lockdown is about sacrifice for everyone. We as volunteers are aware of what our mission is and live it every day. Give

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SEA RESCUE SPRING 2020

PHOTOGRAPHS: SUPPLIED

JASON SAMUELS Trainee coxswain, Station 16 (Strandfontein) Storeman, NSRI Head Office

PHOTOGRAPHS: SUPPLIED

without reward and never regret not receiving anything in return.

DORETTE PIENAAR Trainee crew, Station 37 (Jeffreys Bay)

My relationship with the crew is always family first. Every volunteer is a beacon of light. We are a very close-knit family and encourage respect, humility and equality. Every reward is earned and it is always celebrated. We practise professionalism in everything we do and we have many fun memories to share. But we always remain rescue ready. Our Head Office Training Department created an online virtual training facility for all crew to learn new skills and to refresh existing knowledge. It has proved invaluable.

During the lockdown, we followed specific protocols when responding to call-outs.

We formulated a response team with an ‘onroute-to-base’ strategy comprising of a back-up secondary unit as well. There was not a soul in sight on the beaches along our coast, which could make you feel exposed to everything positive and negative. But the absence of the people has helped to heal our planet. Without the human influence, our coast looks like an undiscovered gem once more.

Ambulance emergency assistant

P

RESENTLY I am a sea-going crew member and assist where and when I can. I joined the station in December 2016 and officially made crew at the beginning of March this year. My duties include general maintenance of the base, equipment, vessels and vehicles, ensuring everything is ready and in place for the next call-out. I have always been interested in helping people. It’s part of my nature and how I operate. If I can lend a hand, even just in passing, I will do so.

In 2017 I qualified as a basic ambulance assistant and began working full time at the Fire Department, and volunteered in my spare time at a private ambulance company. In 2019 I received my Ambulance Emergency Assistant qualification, and look forward to my first day at the private ambulance company I volunteer for on 1 September 2020, but now as a full-time staff member.

I was fortunate that at the Fire Department I could limit my access to people and therefore my exposure, so there was no need for me to ‘hang up my NSRI wetsuit’.

I realised early on that lockdown would be challenging, as not much was known about Covid-19.

I chose to read approved scientific research and opinion articles from respected professionals in their respective fields of expertise. I believe this helped me not to panic about the situation. I rather chose to steer the course, do the necessary to remain healthy and protect myself and those around me.

However, I did become one of the unlucky ones who struggled with methanol poisoning and a resultant skin condition due to the overexposure to sanitisers. I had to circumvent this challenge by keeping water and soap close at hand.

SEA RESCUE SPRING 2020

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VOLUNTEERS

I would like to encourage crew, volunteers and family to take heart, support each other

spare time on my hands now that I’m working in shifts. Although the shifts are shorter, the stress

and spend quality family time as often as possible. Although this time is difficult, we ride into storms to help others! We can and will outride this storm!

joined the Witbank Dam station in August 2019 as a trainee crew member and work full time as part of a team of six occupational therapists (OTs) at Middelburg Provincial Hospital.

Station 35 is quite a small, but still expanding, station with a large geographical area of inland dams and rivers that it is responsible for. Due to Covid-19, our station commander made the difficult decision to suspend our practical training

is much higher owing to the increased patient load. I’ve been spending a lot of my newfound spare time self-isolating at home, debriefing, and attempting to cope with the additional stress.

This is particularly difficult because my usual coping mechanisms such as spending time outdoors, on the water, training at the station, bonding with my crew and seeing my family have now been restricted with the lockdown. Thankfully, our station commander has been wonderful at arranging training sessions via Zoom, WhatsApp video, Skype or whatever-works-that-Wednesday so that we don’t forget the theoretical component of our training, but also so that we can continue to bond as a team and within our respective crews. I cannot wait to be out on the water with them all again!

As an OT, I mostly treat the effects of Covid-19 that present after the main threat to life has passed. These include fatigue, breathing difficulties, balance issues, mobility difficulties, delirium, anxiety, short-term memory problems,

sessions because only a small number of crew are qualified to respond to emergency situations.

We decided to ‘hang up the wetsuit’ to protect our crew from contracting Covid-19 from each other, and so that they can protect those who require the services of our station.

Throughout lockdown, our workday routine has changed significantly as we have been engaging in personal protective behaviour (PPB) by working in shifts, as well as by holding each other accountable for staff screening and personal protective equipment (PPE) donning and doffing, to reduce the risk of transmitting Covid-19 between staff and patients.

Personally, I have struggled to adapt to selfisolating after work, especially since I have more

and cognitive impairments that are caused by lack of oxygen to the brain.

The impact of the pandemic on mental health has been quite profound, so we are also expecting a long future of treating people with anxiety and depression that the pandemic and lockdown has caused – OT is all about restoring and maintaining balance, quality of life and independence in our activities of daily living, and the pandemic and lockdown have affected this in most of the population regardless of whether the individuals have tested positive for Covid-19 or not.

Because of the holistic nature and bio-psychosocial foundations of OT, we form close professional relationships with our patients and their families. The pandemic has made it very difficult

ALICE BOSTOCK Trainee crew, Station 35 (Witbank Dam) Occupational therapist, Middelburg Provincial Hospital

I

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SEA RESCUE SPRING 2020

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to form these relationships with our patients as our faces are covered by masks, as well as the social distancing and decreased contact with the family members of our in-patients (no visitors allowed during the pandemic). I miss seeing my patients’ smiles when they make a breakthrough in their independence. I miss seeing hope and relief flood their family members’ faces when they pop in for a visit and find their previously bed-bound friend or relative walking or wheeling themselves around in a wheelchair. And the children are struggling to engage with us during play therapy because of all the PPE we’re buried under.

Despite these and other challenges, we’ve always managed to rally together to form an ever-changing multidisciplinary team to provide holistic care for our patients, to stand in for each other, to help each other to debrief, or just to share some socially distanced space in mutual thoughtful silence as an escape from the busyness of the hospital and patients.

EMILY ANN BRUWER Crew, Station 12 (Knysna) Clinical nurse practitioner and manager at New Horizons Clinic, Plettenberg Bay

I

am a sea-going crew member at the Knysna base, and also serve in a medical capacity. I decided to rest my wetsuit for a while until the Covid-19 numbers start improving and it becomes less of a risk. I work directly with possibly infected persons and perform the nasopharyngeal swab on my patients, which is a high-risk activity in itself. To protect myself and my loved ones I wear all the prescribed PPE and follow protocol religiously. I do not feel at risk when I do the swabs, but there is no guarantee.

During the week, lockdown does not affect me too much, as I continue work as usual, although 12 |

SEA RESCUE SPRING 2020

weekends do feel a bit long. I had to find ways to keep myself busy, so the hobby projects got a good boost. It did mean that my husband, who works away, was unable to return home for six months. That was hard. I did not bake banana bread or brew pineapple beer.

I have family and friends affected by Covid-19.

A colleague has lost three family members.

We have very strict workplace protocols (even if we do not like them) that I and my staff follow religiously as they’re there to keep us all safe.

Covid-19 has stolen all the attention, and everyone has focused on it, allowing other important services to be neglected or be put on hold if they were not essential. This is very frustrating. We do continue to deliver preventative services, and advocate for patients not to neglect their health or stop their chronic treatment. A lot has changed in my workplace and I think some of these changes are here to stay.

I remain grateful that my loved ones and I have stayed healthy, although I had to make sacrifices, but everyone has had to. I have been able to earn an income throughout this pandemic. I consider myself blessed.

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WE NEVER STOPPED

WORKING

PHOTOGRAPH: SIMON MCDONNELL

A behind-the-scenes look at how the NSRI’s training, drowning-prevention and rescue response continued operating during the Covid-19 lockdown. By Wendy Maritz

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SEA RESCUE SPRING 2020

I T ’ S W H AT W E D O

G

F

ROM 27 MARCH to 26 August this year, Sea Rescue conducted 269 operations.

Among these 46 were medevacs, 20 were animal rescues, 44 were tows and a total of 202 persons in distress were assisted. Continuing to operate during the national lockdown was never in question for NSRI volunteers and staff, but keeping crew and casualties safe had to be a priority, as was maintaining crew training and consistently delivering to vulnerable communities the vital drowning-prevention education messages that have gained such tremendous momentum.

With the onset of social distancing, stay-at-home orders and school closures, and considering the particular voracity with which Covid-19 spreads, it all just had to be done in a different way.

DEVELOPING STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES NSRI’s Lifeguard training coordinator and advanced life support (ALS) paramedic Stewart Seini describes how the NSRI went on high alert several weeks before the hard lockdown was announced.

At the time, the Lifeguard Unit, which was undergo-

Besides Stewart, other role players included NSRI CEO Dr Cleeve Robertson, Class 1 coxswain and surgical registrar Dr Tomé Mendes, and operations manager Brett Ayres. Between them they studied numerous peer-reviewed research papers and liaised with national and international organisations. ‘We spent hours day and night before and after the lockdown announcement to understand the behaviour of Covid-19 so that we would be on top of keeping the crews safe.

As doctors and ALS paramedics, the use of fullbody PPE for infectious diseases is not new to us, so we were able to use a combination of our collective medical and rescue experience along with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases and national government to put together protocols specific to our operations.’

Stewart observes that the rescues that operations crew need to perform are complex enough, requiring swift mobilisation and split-second decision-making, and adding an extra layer to these operations by way of standard operating

PHOTOGRAPH: SIMON MCDONNELL

ing training, was present and on duty on crowded beaches. ‘Overnight, we had to change first-aid protocols, rescue protocols and procedures for our Lifeguard stations to follow.’ Stewart began by

procedures (SOPs) needed to be done in a specific way. These procedures had to be extensive enough to keep crew safe yet easy to implement in an emergency situation. Separate guidelines were created for crew who might The rescues that operations crew perform are come into direct contact with highrisk patients, for example during a complex enough, and adding an extra layer medevac, and for those encountering needed to be done in a specific way. non-high-risk patients. distributing a series of videos outlining basic PPE ‘With suspected or confirmed Covid-19-positive procedures and patient treatment protocols to all casualties, a smaller but highly qualified senior the station commanders. These were the initial team will respond,’ Stewart explains. ‘And each steps, while behind the scenes a task force was one of those members has a well-defined role for formed to ‘research and liaise with national and inthat operation. This has been done to keep the ternational agencies so that our organisation could rest of the crew safe so that they could be tagged have the best protocols in place’, Stewart explains. in if any of the current operational crew have to SEA RESCUE SPRING 2020

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I T ’ S W H AT W E D O

In respect of medevacs, a screening process was introduced outlining a series of questions specific to Covid-19 that would help establish the level of risk involved and the safest way to bring the casualty to safety.

a transfer to the rescue boat or can they instead continue to the nearest and safest port with only the medics on board?

Stewart adds that it was equally important during these unprecedented times, when there is so much fear around the unknown that is Covid-19, that volunteers continued to treat all casualties with compassion. Empathy and care remain the hallmarks of the NSRI’s dedicated crew.

TRAINING ADJUSTS TO A NEW NORMAL NSRI volunteers are highly skilled individuals who undergo rigorous fitness training as well as more specific operational training that covers navigation systems, procedures to follow for maritime 16 |

SEA RESCUE SPRING 2020

extrication (medevacs), swift-water and air-sea rescue, as well as leadership instruction by way of its coxswain assessment course. In recent years the establishment of the Lifeguard Unit has meant a growing presence of trained crew on duty at beaches too.

NSRI’s head of training and development Graeme Harding explains that while the operational aspects of crew training take place at the NSRI’s Cape Town-based training centre, theory training (from trainee to coxswain level) is conducted via its e-learning platform, and practical development courses are held at stations countrywide, facilitated by NSRI’s training department.

Face-to-face interaction provides much of the motivation, sharing and camaraderie among peers essential to effective learning in any sector.

So how, during the first few months of the lockdown, did the training department adapt? Graeme admits that the biggest consideration when Training during lockdown.

PHOTOGRAPH: PAULA LEECH

be removed due to exposure. We also introduced a PPE safety officer whose sole responsibility is monitoring, guiding and protecting the rescue crew and healthcare providers through the protocols of the don and doff procedures relating to PPE.’ In respect of medevacs, a screening process was introduced outlining a series of questions specific to Covid-19 that would help establish the level of risk involved and the safest way to bring the casualty to safety. For each medevac the following questions were considered: 1/ Is the patient’s condition stable enough for the rescue vessel (with a medical crew ready to board at a moment’s notice) rather to follow or escort the vessel back to the closest and safest port?

2/ Does the patient’s condition warrant the boarding of a medical crew? If so, medics will board with high-risk PPE. 3/ Does the condition of the patient warrant

taking all learning virtual was to keep the crew’s

PHOTOGRAPH: PAULA LEECH

motivation and best interests in mind. They were ahead of the curve, had anticipated that the hard lockdown was imminent and had set up a Facebook page a couple of weeks prior to the announcement. ‘It would be the easiest way to stay in contact with everyone,’ he says. Within three days 80% of the crew had joined the page.’

One of their great successes, Graeme explains, was the masterclasses they set up. ‘These covered various subjects pertinent to what we do, as well as the required training. They were also interactive, which allowed for valuable question-and-answer sessions. For those unable to attend, recordings were made and posted to the site. At the moment there is a total crew attendance of 2 500 crew across all the masterclasses.’

In addition, a series of videos was made with the crew, covering navigation, maritime emergency care, fitness and stress management, among a host of other subjects. The result has been that ‘crew morale is high, and the communication has brought us together even more’, he says. ‘We feel it’s definitely created a closer community.’

While some ‘normal’ training has commenced, the training department is poised to hear what Level 2 of the lockdown will bring. Reducing the risk of exposure for crew remains paramount.

Graeme says the latest virtual training will definitely be integrated with live training as the former has been so successful.

‘One of the biggest positives during this period is the buy-in from crew when it comes to this kind of training. It has been phenomenal and we are extremely grateful for the passion and commitment shown by this extraordinary group of volunteers. We salute them!’

LOCKDOWN TRAINING

WITH STEWART During lockdown Stewart Seini’s daily fitness videos have become somewhat legendary.

Head of Drowning Prevention Andrew Ingram approached Stewart to develop a fitness programme for his team. Stewart decided on fitness videos so he could demonstrate the correct techniques. The exercises could be done at home easily, with no equipment required. Stewart was perhaps not prepared for how popular the programme would become, but it’s safe to say that it was not only crew but also supporters who followed his instructions.

‘We call them bodyweight exercises,’ Stewart explains, ‘and the series was initially meant to last 21 days.’ In the end, more than 100 videos were made, and they progressed from the NSRI Facebook training page to the public page. The project even got a mention on KFM! ‘The feedback I received was incredible. I had members and station commanders from all over the country messaging me to tell me about their progress and transformation – and their sore muscles. Families were getting together to exercise and I found out that international rescue organisations were following the fitness videos. I didn’t expect they would create such an impact. It was truly humbling.’

Go to www.bravobravo.co.za to access Stewart’s training series.

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were closed. The team had taught just more than 127 000 children, and we needed to find new ways of getting our safety messages out into the communities where they were most needed.

At first, under Level 5 and Level 4 of the lockdown, the number of drownings dropped remarkably – so much so that we are going to have to mark 2020 drowning statistics with an asterisk when reviewing them in future. However, as the lockdown was relaxed, people started venturing out. The terrible accounts of children drowning once again started appearing in media reports.

Between 12 June and 19 July various media houses reported on three double drowning incidents. Six children had drowned because of failed peer rescue attempts: Nomswenko, 18, and 18 |

SEA RESCUE SPRING 2020

ABOVE: Watersafety instructor Kim Abrahams gives an online lesson. RIGHT: Drowning victim Loveness Sibashe’s father, Enos, is responsible for two Pink Buoys at Mabulala Dam. Loveness, 15, drowned in Mabulala Dam near Hazyview in Mpumalanga; Abieda, 8, and a man who tried to help her drowned in a canal in Belgravia, Cape Town; and Damien, 7, and his sister Kyli, 5, drowned in a dam near Gansbaai.

Then 10-year-old Jay-den was swept off the Gansbaai harbour wall. None of these tragedies should have happened. They were all preventable.

As a department, we had already pivoted and were focused on digital water-safety education.

Our 21 instructors had, almost overnight, become confident to be interviewed on radio about general water safety. A few had even secured television interviews. With the help of our team leaders and the accurate fatal drowning statistics that we have built up, we targeted messages at the relevant communities in their home languages.

PHOTOGRAPHS: SUPPLIED

DROWNING-PREVENTION EDUCATION GOES VIRTUAL Andrew Ingram, head of Drowning Prevention at NSRI, shares how water-safety education adapted during South Africa’s lockdown.

On 26 March 2020 South Africa went into lockdown Level 5, and for Sea Rescue’s water-safety team it was the end of face-to-face teaching in schools. Our plan to reach 600 000 children with our water-safety lessons was blown out of the water by President Ramaphosa on 23 March. Schools

I T ’ S W H AT W E D O LEFT: Sea Rescue water-safety stories were repurposed and published on African Storybook, a digital platform for children’s stories.

PHOTOGRAPHS: SUPPLIED

We sent safety messages via as many platforms as possible, with a strong focus on WhatsApp, Facebook and local radio stations.

We identified local community leaders who

would install and monitor Pink Rescue buoys; we did radio talks about the danger of peer rescue, how to help someone in difficulty in the water and who to call for help; and we posted short video-clip messages from our instructors in local languages on WhatsApp and Facebook.

In a few short weeks, the drowning-prevention team, a unit that specialised in face-to-face teaching, had honed their digital skills to keep spreading the word. With cellphones and PCs we are now carefully targeting communities that are at risk and getting water-safety messages to those who need them the most with video, graphics and pictures that tell a thousand words. It’s what we do. And Covid-19 is not going to stop us.

RESCUE

THE SEA

When a paddler doing the Reverse Miller’s Run was thrown off course by a sudden change in wind conditions, SafeTRX and a quick NSRI response saved the day.

Rob Mousley recounts the events of that 9 July morning.

HAD OTHER PLANS

W

HEN THE NSRI reached Duncan MacDonald’s position, he was approximately 6km off Smitswinkel Bay, rapidly drifting further offshore on his surfski. Gale-force squalls whipped sheets of spray off the waves, reducing visibility almost to nothing. Would they be able to spot the surfski in the maelstrom of waves and spray?

When Duncan and two friends had set off to do the Reverse Miller’s Run, the northwesterly wind had been a relatively moderate 15 knots, gusting to 25 knots – ideal conditions to see the paddlers surfing wave after wave from Fish Hoek to Miller’s Point in False Bay, Cape Town.

Rain and spray whipped up by the squalls blotted out the coastline.

Unbeknownst to them, the wind direction had changed too, and although the paddlers thought they were on a direct line to the finish, they were actually heading further and further out to sea.

It was only when the gloom lifted momentarily that they realised just how far offshore they were.

Duncan, the least experienced of the three surfskiers, had fallen behind and could not see his friends ahead of him when they abruptly turned right to head in towards the ramp at Miller’s Point.

A sudden wind change turned the sea into a frothy mass of swells during the Reverse Miller’s Run paddle.

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SEA RESCUE SPRING 2020

PHOTOGRAPHS: SIMON MCDONNELL

But as they passed Roman Rock Lighthouse, approximately halfway, the wind strength increased dramatically.

12h42: The three paddlers begin the Reverse Miller’s Run in a 15-20kt NW wind.

15h21: The casualty is picked up by the Spirit of Surfski II. He is transferred to Spirit of Safmarine and taken back to base.

13h11: The wind swings to WNW and strengthens dramatically.

14h10: SafeTRX is activated and switches to Alert and Track mode.

PHOTOGRAPHS: SIMON MCDONNELL

Station 10 (Simon’s Town) launches two rescue craft.

A little while later, he looked at his GPS and saw that he’d covered 11km, which meant that he’d already overshot the finish. As he attempted to turn towards shore, he entered a notorious area known to locals as Hurricane Alley. Now the squalls were coming at him more frequently and violently. Every time one hit, it spun him round, the gusts so strong he was barely able to hold onto his paddle, let alone use it.

The coastline curves southwest after Miller’s Point. Not only was Duncan being blown offshore, but the shore was receding too. He wasn’t making any progress and the weather was worsening.

The odds that he’d be able to make his way into Smitswinkel Bay were non-existent.

It was time to call for help. Like many paddlers, Duncan was running the SafeTRX tracking application. Sticking his legs out on either side of the surfski to aid stability, he grabbed his cellphone in its waterproof pouch, opened the app and tapped the “Call for Help” button. Moments later he was talking to the NSRI’s Emergency Operations Centre, and the crew at Station 10 (Simon’s Town) were activated.

The station’s two NSRI craft, Spirit of Surfski II and Spirit of Safmarine, launched and raced south to find him.

‘SafeTRX was critical in this rescue,’ said Darren Zimmerman, station commander of the Simon’s Town base. ‘It really does take the “search” out of “search and rescue”!’

But it wasn’t quite that simple. Although SafeTRX had guided the rescue boats to Duncan’s vicinity, the near white-out of the gale meant that the crew battled to spot the surfski in the huge breaking waves. So it was Duncan who spotted them before they could see him.

‘When I saw them going past about 400m away, I really became concerned,’ he said. ‘What if they couldn’t find me?’

Duncan’s cellphone came to the rescue once more, this time enabling him to speak directly to the crew and guide them to his position. Soon he was picked up by the RIB and transferred to the larger Spirit of Safmarine.

Twenty minutes later, on the way back to the NSRI base, his cellphone battery died. It had been a very close call.

‘Huge thanks to the NSRI for their incredible professionalism and compassion,’ Duncan said afterwards. ‘And thanks to SafeTRX! Next time, I’ll be carrying some extra safety gear, like flares and a VHF radio.’

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CLUB K I D S CLUB KIDS Get creative!

We’d like you to meet Nev and Peggy.

They have important water-safety lessons to teach us, especially with summer coming.

What do you think the water-safety messages are in these two pictures?

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SEA RESCUE SPRING 2020

e!

Clue: Peggy is doing something dangerous in both pictures.

Tell us a story about one of these pictures and we will publish the three best ones in our Summer issue. Email your short story (250 words) to info@searescue.org.za by 15 October 2020.

The writers of the three best stories will each receive a penguin.

NEW TECH

A NEW WAY OF DOING THINGS Bruce Bodmer explains how adopting new automated-workflow technology has streamlined crew management and governance at Station 8 (Hout Bay).

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SEA RESCUE SPRING 2020

D

URING THE COURSE of 2019 our station committee identified the need to find suitable technology to manage our teams, streamline data capturing and automate all our checklists. The goals are to analyse data captured to improve systems and the way we do things, and to communicate effectively with our crew.

Naturally, we didn’t want to reinvent the wheel but rather find best-of-breed software as a service (SAAS) that is cloud based and cellphone friendly.

Our requirements were quite extensive, to say the least, and included a good team-management application for scheduling crew duties and meetings, record-keeping, sending reminders, providing access to documents and for granular security control. We needed checklists to be automated for the servicing of boats, launch and recovery (these are sent to our Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) and captured on Seaweb) and Covid-19 screening. We also wanted a social media communications channel that would connect us to the various communities in Hout Bay. Accurate project management and reporting, and an integrated messaging system, which would allow us to create group chats on demand for operations, were also on our priority list.

FINDING SOLUTIONS Our basic requirements were for apps that are cloud based, available on mobile phones, and are easy to configure and maintain. The data produced by the processes would need be securely stored and available to station management for analysis.

We decided to implement the following suite of SAAS products:

TEAMAPP Primarily used for managing sports teams, this app has been adopted by 10 stations for teammanagement purposes. We’re able to maintain our crew database, sign on new recruits, schedule crew duties and meetings, manage crews in teams, and share documents (crew application forms, indemnity forms, etc), among other useful features.

GOOGLE FORMS Google Forms is used to capture and impart information for the crew change, boat checklists and launch and recovery checks. The system uses customised emails and automated messaging to keep relevant groups informed. Messages are also sent via Telegram to The Friends Of Hout Bay channel, providing basic information of launch and recovery and a short description to keep the community involved.

TELEGRAM This is a ‘chat’ app that replaces WhatsApp. It’s been fully integrated into our station for dayto-day use, station coordination, training and operations, and the automation of information.

Telegram has channels that support an unlimited number of users (for instance, some Telegram channels are being used by governments to communicate Covid-19 information to up to five million users). Our station has created a channel called ‘Friends of the Station’.

Friends and family find it informative when they receive the automated messages about launch and recovery information. Past crew members have connected to the channel and now feel more part of the station’s extended family. What we like about the channel is that it’s a one-way

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NEW TECH

we send out. Feedback from members showed that they had been reluctant to download another chat app but, after using Telegram and exploring its features, they now actively promote it.

Call-out messaging using Telegram has improved our station’s ability to determine quickly who is responding. In a single Telegram Poll message we get an immediate indication of this.

The ‘Thumbs Up’ or ‘Thumbs Down’ messages that are spread in between operational messages are no longer in use.

One of the great features of Telegram is that we can create groups that are accessible from an internet link, for example https://t.me/station8.

This allows us to create an operations group for major operations quickly and invite participating emergency services to assist and communicate.

The same Telegram account can be accessed from multiple devices, so our station controllers and incident commander can use Telegram from their desktops too.

These new improved processes has been greatly welcomed and supported.

Station 8 (Hout Bay) crew are enjoying the benefits of fully automated systems that keep them in touch with each other and the community.

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So far, the new systems have been welcomed and are making the following possible: ›› Analysis of fuel usage and engine hours. ›› Management of boat checks and operational status of assets ›› Analysis of crew attendance at training and meetings. ›› Historical view of information, enabling us to make good informed decisions. ›› Effective management of snags. ›› Immediate automated messaging about incidents and snags. ›› Better governance and tracking of projects and decisions from meetings. ›› Quick access to duty rosters and crew contact information. ›› Ease of scheduling meetings and events, and monitoring RSVPs and attendance. ›› The ability to involve the local community in our station activities.

PHOTOGRAPH: LEE COOPER

broadcast and that we have full control of what

NEWS SAVING LIVES ON LAND TOO AHEAD of World Blood Donor Day, which is recognised each year on 14 June, NSRI volunteers from both coastal and inland stations gathered to donate blood at various centres around the country. Station 18 (Melkbosstrand) volunteered its premises as a donor centre for members of the community to heed the call for this very important cause.

According to the South African National Blood Service (SANBS), less than 1% of South Africans are active blood donors.

Donating blood is another way in which the NSRI seeks to make a difference. NSRI CEO Dr Cleeve Robertson comments: ‘Volunteering is at the heart of what we do and donating blood, especially in the build-up

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ABOVE: Volunteers from Station 27 (Gauteng) supporting World Blood Donor Day. BELOW (from left): Volunteers Stewart Seini from Station 18 (Melkbosstrand) and Emma Klopper from Station 26 (Kommetjie) donating lifesaving blood. to World Blood Donor Day, is simply an extension of who we are. We would urge everyone who is able to donate blood to do so as part of the national effort to save lives.’

Vuyolwethu Mguli, Promotions Officer at the Western Cape Blood Service, expressed his gratitude to the NSRI volunteers and Station 18.

‘You showed tremendous character by keeping cool and helping us to make sure that we acquired sufficient supplies of safe blood, even during these uncertain times,’ Mguli said. ‘We are glad to know that we can depend on you to stick it out when things get a little hairy, and your exceptional work ethic does not go unnoticed.’

Covid-19 has put a hold on many aspects of everyday life, but NSRI volunteers have continued to operate as an essential service, responding to call-outs including medevacs, animals in distress and vessels that have run aground.

CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL ON 22 July, Station 9 (Gordon’s Bay) crew responded after receiving reports of a dog trapped on a rock about 30m offshore off Harmony Park Resort, between Strand and Gordon’s Bay. The dog, a male mixed breed, appeared too afraid to jump into the water to swim to shore. NSRI rescue swimmer Kyle Burns kitted up and, carrying a towel, waded through the water to the rock and approached the dog from the sea side.

The idea was for Kyle to try to marshal the dog towards the shore rather than risk him jumping in the water and swimming further out to sea.

When Kyle reached the rock, he realised the animal was quite scared, so he sat down quietly next to the dog, and explained to him that it would be better if they were both safe on the mainland. Kyle said the dog seemed to calm down with this gentle approach. Kyle then placed a towel over the dog’s head, gently picked him up and carried him back to shore. The dog appeared to latch onto Kyle once they were safe on land. If no one claims the dog, Kyle said he would try to convince his parents to let him adopt it.

ON the same day in Port Alfred, Station 11 crew were asked to help after trainee Vivienne Dames noticed a young flamingo, not yet pink and still sporting its fledgling brown colour, in the shore break at Kleinemonde. The little creature was being dumped Port Alfred deputy station by waves and crying. It commander Christopher Pike then started following holding Frank the flamingo.

Vivian, an ichthyologist, and the fishermen around on the beach. Knowing that flamingos, normally found at the Swartkops area in Port Elizabeth, migrate north, mostly to Mozambique, in autumn, Vivienne suspected that this little one had probably been left behind. Attempts were made to catch the bird but it resisted a number of times so Vivienne asked her fellow crew to assist.

They contacted SANCCOB and were advised on how to capture the bird. It took about 15 minutes to secure it safely in a box, after which it was taken to the SPCA in Port Alfred. One of the crew members named the flamingo Frank. Arrangements were then made for SANCCOB to collect Frank for treatment and rehabilitation. He was initially treated for dehydration overnight, and then transported to Bayworld in Port Elizabeth. After his full rehabilitation, Frank will be released in the spring at Swartkops at around the time flamingos are expected to return from the north.

SE SA E AR R ES EC SU CU E ES P SR PR I NI N G G2 022002 0 |

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WINNERS

Thanks to everyone who entered our colouring competition and congratulations to the winners! Your prizes have been delivered.

Chéan Gerber (age 18+) Joshua Shaefer (age 15-18) Li-Marie Venter (age 10-14) Aiden Kirsten (age 6-9) Haley Pieterse (age 5 and under)

NEW WIRE ROPE INSTALLED AT HERMANUS BASE Station 17 (Hermanus) has undergone renovations to house its future 14m Offshore Rescue Craft (ORC). Included in the overhaul was the installation of heavy-duty wire rope to accommodate the station’s 10m rescue boat South Star.

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SEA RESCUE SPRING 2020

SPONSORS NEWS

KUDOS TO

DHL EXPRESS WE would like to make a little noise for our Strategic Partner DHL Express, which has supported the NSRI in various ways since 2013. The contribution made by DHL since then has been invaluable, as it services our courier needs locally and from time to time overseas as well.

Recently DHL shipped our Gath Helmets from Australia – these are critical for our volunteers and form part of the personal protective equipment they need for carrying out rescues and training. DHL Express is currently shipping mission-critical electronic equipment from the UK for our ORC project. DHL has also sponsored the production of ‘Team Sea Rescue’, our cycle shirt, and the printing of our annual Integrated Report. Thank you, DHL.

TO READ OUR

INTEGRATED

REPORT, please go to

http://ow.ly/IwSJ50B8O9J

South Africa’s greatest selection of

adve nture gear

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Visit any one of 27 stores nationwide For your nearest store call toll-free 0800 007 261 Go to outdoorwarehouse.co.za to learn more and shop online OutdoorW

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SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2020

| 00

WIN! TWO MITSUBISHIS

ENTER NOW!

LIMITED TICKETS!

2nd Prize

R250 000 cash

3rd Prize *Pictures for reference only.

R80 000 holiday TO PARTICIPATE Scan either of the QR codes on the left, call 021 430 4703, email carcomp@searescue.org.za or visit www.nsri.org.za/win/nsri-double-mitsubishi-draw/

SAVING LIVES. CHANGING LIVES. CREATING FUTURES. 32 |

SEA RESCUE SPRING 2020

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

OUR CREW NEED KIT: HOW YOU CAN HELP

More than 1 300 NSRI volunteers provide essential services at 41 inland and coastal rescue bases across South Africa.

Here’s how your donation could help them save lives.

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 / AMSOL / Cargill SA (Pty) Ltd / Damen Shipyards Cape Town (Pty) Ltd / Freddy Hirsch Group / Höegh Autoliners (Pty) Ltd / Imperial Group t/a Alert Engine Parts / JLT Marine (Pty) Ltd / Kelp Products (Pty) Ltd / Kiddie Rides (Pty) Ltd / Komicx Products (Pty) Ltd / Macs Maritime Carrier Shipping (Pty) Ltd / MiX Telematics International (Pty) Ltd / NCS Resins / Press Spinning & Stamping Co / RapidDeploy (Pty) Ltd / RF Design / Richards Bay Coal Terminal / Ruwekus Fishing (Pty) Ltd / Sea Harvest Corporation (Pty) Ltd / Striker Fishing Enterprises (Pty) Ltd

In order to do their work safely in even the toughest conditions, NSRI crew members – all of whom are unpaid volunteers – must have personal protective equipment (PPE) that does the job first time, every time. Their lives, and the lives of those they assist, depend on it.

Replacing worn kit and fitting out new crew members cost thousands of rands per volunteer each year. Add to that the costs of fuel, boat maintenance and general running expenses, and the numbers add up very quickly indeed. This is why we could not do the work we do without the support of our thousands of donors.

What it costs to kit out a crew member The following personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential for all Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) crew. ›› An inflatable life jacket: R1 075 ›› A helmet: R1 200 ›› A wetsuit: R1 900 ›› Gloves: R280 ›› Booties: R425

That adds up to R4 880 per RHIB crew member.

Your support helps save lives All through lockdown, our volunteers never stopped working. They train tirelessly to keep their fitness up year round. And as they provide lifesaving services across the country, their kit is lifesaving in its own right, too.

By making a donation to sponsor crew kit or to cover general running costs, you can support the work these dedicated volunteers do. Whatever you’re able to give, your contribution will help save lives. Visit www.nsri.org.za/funding/donate/.

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The hiker was situated in a treacherous position, making a helicopter rescue necessary.

BETWEEN A

ROCK...

P

EANUTS AND JUNGLE Energy Bars aren’t exactly what you envisage for a Father’s Day lunch but sometimes when you’re a Sea Rescue volunteer, that’s what ends up on the menu. On Sunday 21 June, Garth Dominy, the station commander at Station 23 (Wilderness) received a call from a group of hikers. It was 10h40 in the morning and they had been making their way along a coastal trail near Herold’s Bay. One of their party, a 65-year-old local resident, had separated from the group, climbed up a cliff and was unable to go any further. The steep and slippery path was south-facing and therefore also covered with moss and dripping water. As a result, it would be extremely treacherous for him to try to climb back down. It was clear to the rest 34 |

SEA RESCUE SPRING 2020

of the hiking group that they needed to call for assistance.

The incident happened on a remote stretch of coastline with intermittent cellphone signal.

Judging from the description of the area given by the hiker who called it in, Garth suspected it was likely below the old George shooting range. He asked for a map pin to be sent to him to confirm the location. The caller had to hike up a section of the path to get a better signal, but when the pin came through, Garth’s decision was on point.

Station 23 crew launched the 5,5m Spirit of Rotary from the base, while the 4,2 RIB ClemenGold Rescuer was towed to Herold’s Bay. Metro EMS and the Western Cape Department of Health EMS/ AMS rescue helicopter were placed on standby.

PHOTOGRAPHS: COURTESY AMS, GRANT JEROME (NSRI)

Steep cliffs, a treacherous and slippery south-facing path and a challenging stretch of rocky shoreline near Herold’s Bay made for a dramatic rescue on a sunny Sunday morning when most people were enjoying quality time with their loved ones. By Cherelle Leong

RESCUE

Station 23’s two rescue vessels and the Western Cape Department of Health EMS/AMS rescue helicopter were on scene. .

PHOTOGRAPHS: COURTESY AMS, GRANT JEROME (NSRI)

Although it was a calm sunny day, the area where the hiker was stuck is known for its steep cliffs. Two-metre waves pounded the rocky shoreline, making access challenging. It took some skilful maneuvering of ClemenGold Rescuer through the surf and back out again to drop off rescue swimmer Ross Labuschagne, who then swam to shore. Ross had a radio with him to communicate with the rescue boat. He quickly climbed up to the casualty and found him unin-

Garth offered to collect the Metro EMS incident commander from Herold’s Bay so that he could see the conditions for himself and confirm the need for a helicopter evacuation. As soon as the incident commander arrived on the scene and saw the location of the casualty high up on the cliff, he confirmed that Garth’s call was the correct one and the Western Cape Department of Health EMS/AMS rescue helicopter was activated. In the meantime ClemenGold Rescuer was

jured but anxious and fatigued. The casualty was also starting to get hypothermic from exposure on the cliff face. Ross relayed this information to the crew on the boat and confirmed that trying to

able to get closer inshore and dropped a second rescue swimmer. Dewalt Pretoruis was equipped with space blankets and drinking water, so that they could make the casualty more comfortable.

Further up the hill, above It would be extremely treacherous for [the hiker] to try the cliff, the Station 23 shore crew secured a landing zone to climb back down. It was clear to the rest of the hiking for the helicopter just below group that they needed to call for assistance. the old George shooting take the casualty back down the path would be range. The actual extraction took less than 20 extremely dangerous, especially seeing as he was already tired. The surface of the steep path was a combination of brittle sandstone and mosscovered rocks, and would be difficult to navigate, even for someone young and fit. The best option was going to be a helicopter evacuation.

minutes because the casualty was uninjured and could be hoisted in a harness. After bringing him to safety, the helicopter then returned for the two rescue swimmers. The operation concluded at 14h34 and made for a very memorable Father’s Day for all involved.

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ENVIRONMENT

B

RYDE’S WHALES COMMONLY occur along the coast of South Africa but are rarely

Agulhus Rescuer launched from Struisbaai Harbour with three crew members on board and set out

sighted. They are light-grey in colour, have small sickle-shaped dorsal fins and give very light blows. Even though they can grow up to 16m in length, they are very agile and deep divers. When Daniel la Grange, a crew member of FV Rusvic, spotted a whale entangled by ropes and buoys south of Agulhas, he not only called Sea Rescue to assist but the skipper and crew also offered to stay with the whale until help arrived – a very good call, considering how difficult a Bryde’s whale can be to sight.

Station 30 (Agulhas ) was alerted just before 08h00 and activated the crew. The 8,5m RIB

to rendezvous with the Rusvic. In the meantime the Station 30 mobile vehicle was dispatched to Suiderstrand to launch the 4,7m I&J Rescuer 4. The sea conditions were fair with a rolling 3m swell and clear skies, and by 09h17 both rescue vessels had reached the location of the whale, approximately three nautical miles from land.

The I&J Rescuer 4 carefully approached the animal, identifying it as a 9m juvenile Bryde’s whale that was trailing lines and buoys. The markings on the buoys had been rubbed off and the rope was covered in algae, indicating that the whale may have been entangled for some time.

The crew were able to get close enough to attach a kegding line (a rope to which a number of buoys are attached) to the entanglement to try to slow the whale down. However, as soon as

TRICKY BUSINESS

PHOTOGRAPHS: SUPPLIED

On 22 May this year, Station 30 (Agulhas) crew were eager to help a young Bryde’s whale entangled in ghost fishing net. Despite the animal’s elusive behaviour, the mission was a success. Cherelle Leong tells the story.

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SEA RESCUE SPRING 2020

the crew started making their way up the working line, the whale dived. At this point I&J Rescuer 4 was dead in the water, having switched off and raised the motor. They had no choice but to back off, allowing the whale some time to get used to their presence before making another attempt.

The whale dived once more, this time into the depths, and disappeared. The rescuers could do nothing but watch and wait, hoping that it would resurface nearby.

After about 20 minutes the keen eyes of the crew spotted it surfacing about 500m from their original location. Once again, the rescue vessels made cautious attempts to approach it. This time the crew from I&J Rescuer 4 used a much longer working line and by the time they got up close to the whale, it was calmly lying below the surface, likely tired from dragging the lines. The crew knew they had to work quickly and efficiently, as there was a good chance the whale could dive again. Getting to within 5m, the whale’s flukes were just ahead of the vessel. They were able to cut one side of the entangled rope using a special picking knife attached to a long pole. Moving

The whale seemed glad to be free of its burden and dived down, resurfacing a short distance away before moving off. Approximately 15m of tangled rope and three buoys were recovered from the water and the operation was completed by 10h30. It appeared the loop of rope had not caused any major injury to the caudal peduncle and the whale is expected to make a full recovery.

It was the first whale disentanglement operation this particular crew experienced, and the expert training they had received from the South African Whale Disentanglement Network paid off.

The chance to be so close to such a huge and magnificent sea mammal and to be able to free it successfully was memorable indeed.

PHOTOGRAPHS: SUPPLIED

quickly to the other side of the whale, they were able to make a second cut and the entanglement slipped away.

MAIN: Crew approach the Bryde’s whale once the kegding line has been attached. ABOVE: The rope and buoys recovered from the whale disentanglement operation.

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H E A LT H

ON THE LINE O

N THE EVENING of 8 February 2010, Station 14 (Plettenberg Bay) was asked, together with a number of other rescue services, to assist the Air Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC) in the search for a light aircraft with nine people on board, reported to have gone missing on the coastline between Wilderness and Plettenberg Bay. The plane wreckage was discovered the following morning in the waters off Robberg Nature Reserve. Tragically all nine passengers lost their lives.

Head of NSRI’s Training Department Graeme Harding was involved in the recovery operation 38 |

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and recalls what a profound effect it had on not only the rescue personnel directly involved, but also on the NSRI as a whole. ‘It put the spotlight on how we as an organisation should prepare our crews mentally for worst-case-scenario outcomes and use debriefing sessions to openly discuss how they are affected by such tragic events,’ he says.

Most often search efforts are exhaustive, but the reality of ‘search and rescue’ is that ‘rescue’ can become ‘recovery’. And when casualties are not found, the effects can be devastating. Enrico Menezies, former station commander at Station

MAIN PHOTOGRAPH: LOURENS DE VILLIERS

Rescue personnel are often placed in dangerous and tragic situations in the line of duty.

We chatted to NSRI’s national trainer Enrico Menezies about his own experiences and why peer and family support, debriefing and counselling are so important. By Wendy Maritz

MAIN PHOTOGRAPH: LOURENS DE VILLIERS

31 (Still Bay) and Station 24 (Lamberts Bay) and current national trainer, has been involved in about 400 call-outs during the 17 years he has been with the NSRI. ‘The outcomes of rescues definitely affect the crew,’ he explains. ‘There were times in my career when we were not in time for a happy ending. Bringing the deceased home and getting closure for the families and yourself help you to deal with the tragic event. When you don’t find the casualty, you feel like you have failed; there is no closure.’

Enrico recalls an incident where he was involved in the search for a missing swimmer 5nm east of Stil Bay. ‘We searched for three days, and on the morning of the fourth day his body washed ashore.’ In another incident, an NSRI crew member rushed into the water on a beach in Mossel Bay after being alerted to a drowning in progress involving three children from the same family. She was only able to save one child.

There are many such stories. Each rescue scenario is different; each one presents its own unique challenges.

‘We often have the difficult task of telling family

he says. ‘You need the courage to identify there is something wrong, listen to the people closest to you when they tell you that you’re behaving strangely, and accept the treatment and help offered to manage the condition. You cannot do it alone!’ ’ In their careers, rescue personnel will find

members that their loved one has passed away or wasn’t recovered,’ Enrico adds.

As much as a successful rescue brings joy and relief to rescuers and family alike, tragic outcomes will weigh heavily on everyone involved, not least on the rescuer who may have tried everything possible to save a life.

Enrico knows from personal experience that a single traumatic event can have a lifelong effect on an individual. He is candid about his own battle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that followed his experiences in the South African Border War. There was a time when he lost everything due to its effects, but through the kindness and support of a friend he was able to rebuild his life. ‘There is no magic pill for PTSD,’

themselves in dangerous and tragic situations – this is the nature of the work they do. These events may not necessarily manifest as PTSD, but they can cause anxiety and depression if there isn’t adequate trauma counselling in place.

NSRI volunteers have access to this kind of counselling, but Enrico encourages all crew to look out for and support each other. If someone is quieter than usual or has become withdrawn, it’s a sign they may need help.

Debriefings after training sessions and rescue operations are vital, he says, not only to review events and roles, but also to provide a forum for crew to express how they feel about how events unfolded. ‘Doing this helps provide answers, and answers bring us nearer to closure,’ he says.

‘We also often have the difficult task of telling family members their loved one has passed away.’ Enrico Menezies

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ENVIRONMENT

STRONG PAIR BONDS Around South Africa, northern rockhoppers are usually vagrant moulting juveniles. Southern rockhoppers are rarely seen, although both species are occasionally found bearing capture marks. These animals have probably been caught by fishing boats, kept for entertainment, and then thrown overboard before reaching port to avoid being fined. (It is illegal to keep these birds.)

In the wild, however, rockhoppers return to their birth islands in spring, where they gather in loose colonies, fighting and building their nests, either in burrows among tussock grass or on rocks in the open.

They establish strong pair bonds and, once mated, a couple will nest and rear chicks together through their lifetimes.

Once the nest is ready, the female lays two eggs several days apart, the first smaller than the second. The parents

ISLAND ROCK STARS While rockhopper penguins might be considered the most characterful species in the avian world, they follow a structured, intricate and balanced life cycle.

Naturalist Georgina Jones tells us more.

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PHOTOGRAPH: OTTO WHITEHEAD

P

ERHAPS rockhopper penguins should more accurately be called rockclimbers. So agile are these charming birds that they can nest 250m up on steep cliffs, using their beaks to steady themselves as they jump and clamber up near-vertical rock faces.

Rockhoppers are the smallest of the crested penguins, a group of six species of penguins with distinctive yellow crests. They’re not the only penguins to hop over rocks, but since they live on the Falklands, and on Marion, Tristan and Gough islands, they were first to be observed by mariners and so got their name.

There are two species of rockhopper penguins: the northern, found on Gough and the Tristan island group, and the southern, which has two subspecies, one around the Falklands and another from the Prince Edward Islands and further east.

PHOTOGRAPH: OTTO WHITEHEAD

No wonder Hollywood made a movie with a rockhopper penguin as the lead – Surf’s Up

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ENVIRONMENT

take turns to brood the eggs, incubating them for about a month. When the chicks hatch, the larger male stays on the nest to warm and protect the chicks, while the smaller female heads out to sea on short foraging trips for food for the young.

CURIOUS CASE OF THE EXTRA EGG The chick from the first-laid egg is usually doomed. Most often this egg doesn’t hatch.

And if it does, the female usually doesn’t feed the chick so it starves. There has been speculation over why the first egg is laid at all: rockhoppers clearly cannot feed two chicks and preferentially feed the larger, more robust chick. It may be that

So, even though two eggs are laid, rockhoppers raise only one chick, which is fed by the female while the male fasts and protects it. Once the chick leaves the nest for the crèche of other chicks, both parents feed it until it heads out to sea as a blackand-white juvenile. Its distinctive yellow crests only start to develop after the first moult.

When moulting, rockhoppers first undertake a short pre-moult foraging trip, feeding enormously and gaining food reserves to see themselves through the moult. Their new feathers start growing a few days before they get back to land, and once there, they must wait out the moulting period, fasting while their new feathers grow and the

this is evolution in action. Rockhoppers spend the winter in the open ocean, never coming to land. The first egg develops while at sea when the female is physically incapable of diverting enough resources to grow a viable egg. Perhaps it’s easier energy-wise to retain the double egg system than to adjust biology to produce only one egg.

old ones are lost. The moult is finally complete when the birds waterproof their new feathers with oil from their preen glands. They are then able to brave the waters of the southern oceans. Here they spend the four to six months of winter foraging before returning to land to climb the steep cliffs and start nesting once more.

Did you you know?

Did know?

›› Rockhoppers live to around 10 years in the wild. ›› They grow to around 56cm and weigh between 2-3kg, making them the smallest of the crested penguins. ›› Their sharp claws and strong legs make it easy for them to scramble up steep rock faces. ›› They can hop 2 metres in a single go.

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›› They are known to burst from the water near shore and land on rocks with a belly flop. ›› They have ruby eyes beneath their bright yellow eyebrows. ›› All breeds of penguins are protected from egg collecting and hunting by law.

PHOTOGRAPHS (LEFT TO RIGHT): TWO OCEANS AQUARIUM, OTTO WHITEHEAD

LEFT: Rockhoppers at Two Oceans Aquarium delight visitors. ABOVE: Northern rockhopper penguins on their native Nightingale Island.

STATION DIRECTORY The NSRI is manned by more than 1 300 volunteers at 43 bases around the country, including five inland dams. Our volunteers have day jobs but will always respond to your emergency.

STN 2 StatCom: STN 3 StatCom: STN 4 StatCom: STN 5 StatCom: STN 6 StatCom: STN 7 StatCom: STN 8 StatCom: STN 9 StatCom: STN 10 StatCom:

BAKOVEN Luke van Riet TABLE BAY Marc de Vos MYKONOS Michael Shaw DURBAN Jonathan Kellerman PORT ELIZABETH Justin Erasmus EAST LONDON Geoff McGregor HOUT BAY Geoff Stephens GORDON’S BAY Alan Meiklejohn SIMON’S TOWN Darren Zimmermann

✆ 082 990 5962 ✆ 082 990 5963 ✆ 082 990 5966 ✆ 082 990 5948 ✆ 082 990 0828 ✆ 082 990 5972 ✆ 082 990 5964 ✆ 072 448 8482 ✆ 082 990 5965

STN 11 StatCom: STN 12 StatCom: STN 14 StatCom: STN 15 StatCom: STN 16 StatCom: STN 17 StatCom: STN 18 StatCom: STN 19 StatCom: STN 20 StatCom:

PORT ALFRED Stephen Slade KNYSNA Jerome Simonis PLETTENBERG BAY Marc Rodgers MOSSEL BAY André Fraser STRANDFONTEIN Vaughn Seconds HERMANUS Andre Barnard MELKBOSSTRAND Peter O’Hanlon RICHARDS BAY Bernard Minnie SHELLY BEACH Jeremiah Jackson

✆ 082 990 5971 ✆ 082 990 5956 ✆ 082 990 5975 ✆ 082 990 5954 ✆ 082 990 6753 ✆ 082 990 5967 ✆ 082 990 5958 ✆ 082 990 5949 ✆ 082 990 5950

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STATION DIRECTORY STN 21 StatCom: STN 22 StatCom: STN 23 StatCom: STN 24 StatCom: STN 25 StatCom: STN 26 StatCom: STN 27 StatCom: STN 28A StatCom: STN 29 StatCom: STN 30 StatCom: STN 31 StatCom: STN 32 StatCom:

ST FRANCIS BAY Sara Smith ✆ 082 990 5969 VAAL DAM Jake Manten ✆ 083 626 5128 WILDERNESS Garth Dominy ✆ 082 990 5955 LAMBERT’S BAY Avril Mocke ✆ 060 960 3027 HARTBEESPOORT DAM Arthur Crewe ✆ 082 990 5961 KOMMETJIE Ian Klopper ✆ 082 990 5979 GAUTENG Gerhard Potgieter ✆ 060 991 9301 PORT ST JOHNS John Costello ✆ 082 550 5430 AIR-SEA RESCUE Marius Hayes ✆ 082 990 5980 AGULHAS Reinard Geldenhuys ✆ 082 990 5952 STILL BAY Jean du Plessis ✆ 082 990 5978 PORT EDWARD Gerrit du Plessis ✆ 082 990 5951

STN 33 StatCom: STN 34 StatCom: STN 35 StatCom: STN 36 StatCom: STN 37 StatCom: STN 38 StatCom: STN 39 StatCom: STN 40 StatCom: STN 41 StatCom: STN 42 StatCom: STN 43 StatCom:

WITSAND Thys Carstens ✆ 082 990 5957 YZERFONTEIN Willem Lubbe ✆ 082 990 5974 WITBANK DAM Travis Clack ✆ 060 962 2620 OYSTER BAY Lodewyk van Rensburg ✆ 082 990 5968 JEFFREYS BAY Michael van den Berg ✆ 079 916 0390 THEEWATERSKLOOF Shane Wiscombe ✆ 072 446 6344 ROCKY BAY Kevin Fourie ✆ 072 652 5158 ST LUCIA Jan Hofman ✆ 063 699 2722 BALLITO Quentin Power ✆ 060 305 4803 KLEINMOND Schalk Boonzaaier ✆ 063 699 2765 PORT NOLLOTH Hugo Foot ✆ 063 698 8971

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.

YOU CAN ALSO MAKE A DONATION AND LET US KNOW WHICH RESCUE BASE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT. Cheques can be mailed to: NSRI, PO Box 154, Green Point 8051 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.

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