NSRI Sea Rescue Magazine Winter 2023

SEA RESCUE ROLLING OUT OUR

JETRIBS FOR SURF RESCUE

2 LETTERS

4 BACK TO SAFETY

Multiple stations rally to assist a group of stricken hikers on the Tsitsikamma Trail.

10 A LONG WAY HOME

After becoming separated from her dive group, a KZN diver realises she needs to initiate a self-rescue.

14 ACHIEVING MORE, WORKING TOGETHER

The importance of cross-training between stations to enhance crew competencies.

18 MEET THE INSTRUCTORS

The amazing people who are empowering our youth to be safe and responsible around water.

22 KIDS’ CLUB

Games and water-safety lessons for our young members.

26

HIGH DRAMA ON THE DAM WALL

After reports of a seriously injured casualty were received by NSRI Hartbeespoort, the station’s crew went to work quickly to save a life.

29 AGM

We recognise crew, stations and individuals who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.

33 STATION AND SPONSOR NEWS

International awards and events, SA solo sailor commended, ORC Nr 5 for Richards Bay, and fundraising and sponsor updates.

42 BUILT FOR SPEED

Naturalist Georgina Jones reveals more about mantis shrimps and how they pack a considerable punch for their size.

46 NSRI BASE LOCATIONS

Y the time you read this, we’ll be on the other side of our Solstice Swim and looking forward to summer. I made my annual pilgrimage to Namibia in May to do work with another non-profit. On my return I got a call from Walvis Bay and Mozambique to talk about assisting them in starting up services. It would be good to see another ‘Station 18’ in Walvis Bay. For a long time, the NSRI and South African Search and Rescue (SASAR) have been conscious that there isn’t a rescue service in place north of our borders. We’ll see how we can help.

I recently visited the two bases located in our northern extremes: Port Nolloth and St Lucia. Port Nolloth now has a brand-new base and St Lucia is really going strong. It’s interesting how, once you put down roots, you appreciate the extent of the need for services. Running services over such long distances has its challenges, and kudos to the volunteer leadership that sustains these operations so passionately.

The Volunteer Service Centre in Cape Town is hard at work and about to launch our Information Technology Fundraising System (Customer Relations Management or CRM), which should improve our donor management and boost efficiency so that we can build on our achievements and retain and expand our donor pool. You, the donors, are the lifeblood of the organisation and sustaining these relationships (more than 100 000) is key to our future. We’re also launching into different areas of digital fundraising and marketing with the assistance of professional marketing consultants by opening up the monetisa-

Btion of various platforms like Facebook, Instagram and others. It’s a very competitive NPO market out there, so please stay with us. After the destruction of our JetRIB at Station 16 (Strandfontein), Judith February referred to us as a ‘National Treasure’. We hope you all feel like that.

ORC number five has been delivered to Richards Bay and ORC number six (there will be eight in total) is in production, with Two Oceans Marine maintaining the excellent build quality delivered to date. The Station 21 (St Francis Bay) base is complete and boasts a new hydraulic boatlifting platform; Station 3 (Table Bay) in the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is progressing well; and we await permission to start the construction of a new Station 8 (Hout Bay) base. Station 6 (Gqeberha) is also due for base modifications (for a new ORC). Kei Mouth has found a local facility in an existing house, which has created some space to attend to other projects. Our projects team is doing a great job!

Rescue and drowning prevention activities continue – whether it’s a Pink Rescue Buoy incident, surf rescue, medivac or prevention initiative. These are testimony to our volunteers and staff, inland and on the coast. Read the stories at nsri.org.za.

On 25 July we observed World Drowning Prevention Day and on 30 September we hold our NSRI Open Days, so please feel welcome to join us at a station near you.

Orientate, float, make it to the side!

DR CLEEVE ROBERTSON, CEO

THE CREW

THE PUBLISHING

PARTNERSHIP

MANAGING EDITOR

Wendy Maritz

ART DIRECTOR Ryan Manning

COPY EDITOR

Deborah Rudman

ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE

Bernice Blundell

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Susan Newham-Blake

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

John Morkel

ADDRESS

PO Box 15054, Vlaeberg 8018

TEL +27 21 424 3517

FAX +27 21 424 3612

EMAIL wmaritz@tppsa.co.za

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

PRODUCED FOR THE NSRI BY The Publishing Partnership (Pty) Ltd, PO Box 15054, Vlaeberg 8018.

Copyright: The Publishing Partnership (Pty) Ltd 2023. 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 of the NSRI. Offers are available while stocks last.

PRINTING Novus

ISSN 1812-0644

DANKIE AAN STASIE 14, PLETTENBERGBAAI!

Ek is die moeder van Anke Schreuder, een van die studente wat bygestaan is gedurende die Tsitsikamma-redding. Wat ’n angswekkende nag was dit nie vir ons in Piketberg nie, met my dogter 440km ver!

Nadat ons die Vrydagmiddag om 15h30 die nuus ontvang het dat hulle nie oor die rivier kon kom nie, was ons nog rustig en kalm, want hulp was oppad. Toe dit egter donker begin word en die nuus ons bereik dat niemand by hulle kon uitkom voor die volgende oggend vroeg nie, het die gemoedere egter vinnig verander. Nou was ons bekommerd en hulpeloos en angstig. Dit was ’n slapelose nag, met een oproep van ’n bewende dogter: ‘Ons is oukei, Mamma. Die oom praat elke uur met ons en hy gee raad en vra elke keer of ons nog oukei is!’

Groot was ons verligting toe ons hoor hulle is veilig – danksy julle en nog baie ander spanne. Ons as ouers is julle innig dankbaar en het weereens soveel respek gekry vir die onbaatsugtige werk wat julle daagliks doen. Baie, baie dankie! My dogter kan nie ophou praat oor die simpatie en belangstelling van al die betrokkenes nie. Die stories van julle aanmoediging en omgee hou nie op nie.

Daar is baie lesse geleer en dit was ’n lewenservaring wat lank onthou sal word, want danksy julle het alles goed geëindig!

Nogmaals dankie, ELIZABETH ‘IZA’ SCHREUDER

Baie dankie vir die top, Tannie Eoudia. Ek waardeer die gebaar opreg. Dit pas en is lekker warm. Mag God jou seën met alle reddingswerke.

Tannie maak ’n groot verskil.

JayJay

Eoudia Erasmus is deel van NSRI se waterveiligheidspan en het JayJay by een van die veiligsheidslesse in die Wes-Kaap onderrig.

JAYJAY GENIET SY HOODIE

BACK TO SAFETY

When a group of hikers became stranded after heavy rains on the Tsitsikamma Trail, a group rescue effort was organised to assist the stricken youngsters.

By Cherelle Leong

When your daughter is on her first overnight hike with a group of friends, the last thing you want to get late on Friday afternoon is a phone call saying that they’re stuck. Yet this is exactly what happened to the Schreuders on 12 May.

Their daughter, Anke, was three days into the Tsitsikamma Trail. The group had crossed the first river earlier in the morning and continued along the trail towards the next overnight hut. But when they got to the second river crossing of the day, they found it impassable. Heavy rain had

increased the water levels and the usually moderate flow was a raging torrent. Wisely, the group made the decision to backtrack, hoping to get back to the hut they’d stayed at the night before. They had waded through waist-deep water earlier in the day, but when they got back to the spot where they’d crossed, it too was flowing significantly higher and faster. The tension wire across the river was so slack that it wouldn’t provide a very stable support line when crossing.

Realising they were in trouble, they made the decision to call for help. Due to the steep and heavily forested terrain, there was no cellphone signal at the river crossing. They had to hike up the mountain some distance before they were able to place a call.

It was just before 4pm on that Friday that Lodewyk van Rensberg, station commander of NSRI Oyster Bay, received a call

from the Knysna base about the stranded hikers. With daylight fading fast and weather conditions deteriorating, there was little doubt it was going to be a complex and possibly dangerous rescue. NSRI crews from Oyster Bay, Storms River, Plettenberg Bay and Jefferys Bay were placed on standby while Lodewyk sought out more information on where the hikers were stranded. He wanted to have a better idea about what rescue resources would be needed. A helicopter would be the first choice, but the low cloud cover and fading light were against that option. Getting to the closest trail-end by road would take about two hours in steep and muddy terrain.

The Plettenberg Bay crew volunteered to try reach the group, but, as suspected, the conditions were not conducive for a rescue and they pulled back to their base.

It would be dark by the time rescue crews got close and trying to hike down to the river crossing would be very risky.

The Plettenberg Bay crew volunteered to try reach the group, but, as suspected, the conditions were not conducive for a rescue and they pulled back to their base. The best they could do was establish direct phone contact with the group and help them prepare to spend the night out on the trail. The hikers were already cold and wet from the day’s adventures, so a priority was to create some form of shelter and try to warm

Clockwise from far left: A successful evacuation; the Tsitsikamma Trail is one of the most popular – and beautiful – hikes in the Garden Route.

up. The group took the instructions to heart, remaining calm and dividing up into three groups to manage important tasks. The first group collected firewood and dragged branches together to form a rough shelter. The second group set about starting and maintaining a fire. The third group focused on making coffee, hot chocolate and food

to try and stave off hypothermia. They had space blankets and sleeping bags, but most of their gear was soaking wet. While it was going to be a long cold night on the mountain, at least they knew they weren’t abandoned. Come first light, rescue would be on its way, and every hour on the hour, they had a check-in call with the rescue crew to update them on everyone’s condition.

For Lodewyk, it was an evening of planning and co-ordinating rescue resources. By late on Friday the rain had eased off and the teams were hopeful that by morning the water levels in the rivers would drop. The first priority would be to get a medic to the hikers to assess their condition. Savannah Helicopters had confirmed their availability with pilot Greg Johnson and Eastern Cape Government Health EMS and the SA Police Services were on standby, in addition to Sea Rescue crew.

At first light a Joint Operations Command Centre (JOCC) was set up at the MTO Lottering Forestry Station. While the rain had stopped, the mountains were still shrouded in a thick mist. Fortunately, one of the Plettenberg Bay first responder medics knew the terrain well, as he’d worked as a guide on the trails in the area. James Stewart knew of an area that could be used as a landing zone on the hillside above where the hikers were located. Once the helicopter arrived the plan was to fly James, plus EMS rescue paramedic Jaco Kotze and NSRI Plettenberg Bay rescue swimmer Nathan Hart, up to the landing zone so that they could hike down to the group. In the meantime, two vehicles with additional rescue personnel would drive up the mountain to the closest trail access point.

Above: A relieved group of hikers warming up after their ordeal.

Below: The Bloukrans Hut offers a welcome refuge after a cold night on the trail.

The helicopter took off in nearly zerovisibility conditions, skilfully manoeuvring on the mountaintop to drop off the medic and NSRI rescue crew before returning to the landing zone on the mountain. The rescuers hiked down to meet the group, taking with them space blankets, water and bananas. They found the hikers in good spirits, despite being cold and wet. They’d done a good job of keeping a fire going through the night despite intermittent rain. One hiker was assessed for smoke inhalation but otherwise the group was in good health. The river levels had dropped and after retentioning the line that spanned it, the decision was made to attempt to cross and hike back to the Bloukrans Hut.

The rescue crew assisted the hikers across the river, with a sturdy hand to support them when a foot slipped and provide strength to get through the waist-deep water. Once on the other side they still had a fair distance to cover. The group made steady progress and by mid-morning had reached the hut where the two vehicles with additional rescue crew had arrived. The hikers were bundled into more dry blankets while a landing zone was set up to extract them. In three relays the hikers were ferried off the mountain by helicopter. Once at the JOCC they were warmed up with coffee, hot chocolate and food.

It was just after 11am when the Schreuders’ phone rang, but it wasn’t a number they recognised. The last time they’d spoken to Anke had been at 12h18, and she’d been shivering so much she’d barely been able to speak. Anxiously they answered and were elated to hear her voice. ‘We’re safe, we’re at the forestry station.’ Seven words were never so treasured. It had been a massive co-ordinated effort, in difficult conditions. The fortitude displayed by the hikers in taking care of one another through the night and their calm management of the situation made the rescue much easier. For the Schreuder family, far away from where the drama was unfolding, it meant the world to know that there were so many people willing to come to the group’s rescue and ensure their safe return.

Above: Safe and found! Left: The group of hikers had to improvise to keep warm and dry.

A LONG WAY HOME

A KZN diver initiates self-rescue after being separated from her dive boat.

By Cherelle Leong

LOOKING AROUND, she knew that continuing to descend was not an option. The currents were too strong and the viz was awful. She’d lost sight of her dive buddy and the line leading down to the rest of the group. There was simply no way she was going find them underwater.

Checking her dive computer, she registered the depth of 20m and knew that hanging around there was pointless. Her only option was to ascend. Taking a breath,

she slowly finned upwards, paused at 10m to deploy the surface marker buoy (SMB) and then exhaled the rest of the way to the surface. She knew the drill. Surface, look around, try make yourself more visible and wait for the dive boat to find you.

She’d only just heard the dive boat overhead, except there was no dive boat in sight. But reality quickly set in. Even if the dive boat was already looking for her, the confused grey ocean with 3m waves, peaking in all directions, would make it practically impossible to spot her.

Still, she had to try. As the waves crested, she kicked to raise herself up, lifting up the bright orange SMB to try make herself

more visible. But all it did was exhaust her. She stopped, realising the futility of her efforts. Calmly she took a moment to rest and regroup. Take stock of her situation.

At some point they’d discover she was missing. Her husband and son had been part of the dive group. They’d initiate a search and help would come. In the meantime, she could see the shoreline –although it was 6km away. The least she could do was get closer, she might even be able to get ashore. She could do this.

She began to formulate a plan. Even though she was a strong swimmer, fitness was no match for swift ocean currents. She had to use her mind and leverage the currents to get to where she wanted to go. She had her dive gear to help with flotation and her fins to swim with. She’d be OK.

Just then, as she looked towards the shoreline, the sun broke through the clouds. She could see the rolling green hills beyond the beach and was captivated by the scene. ‘That could be a painting,’ she mused, smiling to herself. It was a moment of calm; even the sea around her seemed less tormented. It didn’t matter that there might be sharks below. That was something she could do nothing about. But there was something she could do about being alone in the ocean. She could see the shore, could feel the current pulling her south. She just had to work with it, use it to get to shore and she’d be reunited with her family.

It was mid-morning when Kevin Fourie, station commander of NSRI Station 39 (Rocky Bay) got the call. ‘There’s a diver missing, we need your help.’ Kevin had worked on dive charters in the area for

decades. He knew the dive sites well and could read the currents like a map. ‘I need co-ordinates of her last known position,’ he responded, ‘and how long she’s been missing.’

While the dive-boat skipper made his way back to the original drop site to get the co-ordinates, Kevin started activating rescue resources – he knew he’d need a lot of them. Rocky Bay prepared to launch, a Station 5 (Durban) ASR rescue swimmer was placed on standby and a request was put to the local SANDF Airforce base to launch a helicopter. NSRI’s

It didn’t matter that there might be sharks below. That was something she could do nothing about. But there was something she could do about being alone in the ocean. She could see the shore, could feel the current pulling her south.

EOC was also activated with a request to get hold of Marilyn Wells, a Station 26 (Kommetjie) crew person who’d designed SearchWell. This software tool is used to map out search areas by using currents and weather conditions to calculate drift patterns. (SearchWell had already been very effective in assisting with searches along the KZN coast.) Brett Ayres from the NSRI Volunteer Support Centre, who was experienced in working with SearchWell, was also asked to assist.

Information indicated that there was a strong north-south current. The diver would be drifting fast in a southerly direction along the coast. Kevin decided to acti-

vate Station 20 (Shelly Beach) to come up from the south and conduct a goalkeeper search in case the currents had taken her further than expected.

Rocky Bay launched their vessel, Megan II, with three crew on board and made their way to the co-ordinates given. It wasn’t at one of the known dive sites and the drift test conducted by one of the crew confirmed how swiftly the southerly current was running. Given the amount of time the diver had already been in the water, she’d be far down the coast. They’d have to move fast.

Information came back from the team working on SearchWell, confirming the search area. Simultaneously, reports came in from a civilian aircraft of a person in the sea near to the Sugar Mill. It was north of where the diver was expected to be, but they needed to follow all possible leads. Megan II diverted to where the aircraft was circling overhead, and after conducting an extensive search and finding nothing, it was decided to return to the original plan and head south. There was no way to know how far or fast the diver had drifted; what was certain was that she hadn’t been found.

After hours adrift at sea, the currents had taken her to just behind the backline. But it was rough and every time she tried to get through, she’d be battered around without making any progress towards shore. She knew she’d drifted far south. Factories and industrial areas had given way to a more rural setting. While there were settlements dotting the landscape, she was aware of being alone. A long stretch of beach gave way to a rocky shoreline and past that the area appeared

NSRI’s EOC was also activated with a request to get hold of Marilyn Wells, a Station 26 (Kommetjie) crew person who’d designed SearchWell. This software tool is used to map out search areas by using currents and weather conditions to calculate drift patterns.

to be increasingly rural. The N2 highway was just beyond the beach. She had been drifting behind the back line for almost two hours… she had to try get to shore now.

She took off her dive gear and used it as a raft to get through the surf, inching closer to shore. She was so close, all she needed was a gentle wave to nudge her onto the rocks. As if reading her thoughts, the ocean obliged and did exactly that. At 13h30, after five hours of being adrift alone at sea, she found herself on shore. In the distance

From across the highway, she heard a shout. A man was seeing his wife off as she climbed into a taxi. ‘Are you OK?’ he yelled. Deciding that someone who asked that wouldn’t harm her, she crossed the highway to the spot where he was standing. ‘Do you have a phone I could use?’ she asked. ‘I need to call my husband.’ Without hesitation he handed her a battered old Nokia. Perhaps it was the adrenaline wearing off, or the knowledge she’d soon be reunited with her family, but she suddenly felt her legs giving out and had to sit down. The good Samaritan disappeared into his house, returning with a glass of ice water. ‘You must be thirsty,’ he said simply before disappearing again, this time returning with a pair of Crocs. ‘And your feet must be sore. Here, put these on.’

Station 39 (Rocky Bay) launched Megan II to join the search for the missing diver.

she could see fishermen on the rocks and a faint footpath heading away from the beach. Her only thought was to get to the highway. Once there she could flag down help. Stowing her gear among the rocks, she scrambled in her thin nylon socks up the footpath to the highway. She headed south, deciding she’d be more visible on that side. But her attempts to flag down passing vehicles proved futile. No-one was stopping for a wetsuit-clad person waving on the highway.

Meanwhile, news of her phone call reached the rescue boats. Relieved, the rescue crews returned to their bases while the Rocky Bay shore crew accompanied the family to collect her.

There was much to reflect on. How she’d been separated from the dive group, how she’d made her way back to shore, and what had been the key elements of her self-rescue. The lesson was that, even for very experienced divers, things can go wrong. Remaining calm, reading the conditions and having a plan can make all the difference to survival. She had been sure that help would come, but the number of people willing to join in the search and help her still amazes her. And simple acts of kindness from a complete stranger –something never to be forgotten.

ACHIEVING MORE, WORKING TOGETHER

Cross-training between stations enhances crew competency and builds stronger relationships between crew members. Cherelle Leong explains why these inter-station exercises are more important than ever.

It’s not unusual in major operations for multiple stations to be activated to ensure that there are adequate resources available. During these operations, rescue vessels may perform different functions, working together under the on-scene commander, who is usually the coxswain of the largest vessel on the callout. This is achieved without much effort, because for decades flanking stations have trained together. This cross-station training has always been a fairly informal arrangement but is now proving to be more important than ever.

When a formal training department was set up by NSRI head office, the objective was to standardise training and ensure that all crew achieve similar levels of competency in order to be operational. The training department now has six full-time trainers who spend their days (and often their nights) travelling to various regions in South Africa to ensure that all volunteers are taught the core skills essential to rescue work. When trainee coxswains are assessed, it’s done against criteria that will enable them to operate with confidence in any environment.

The challenge, however, is that bases have specific areas of operation with vessels best suited to the conditions and area they operate in. Station 26 (Kommetjie), for example, is very comfortable operating in the surf as that’s their launch area, but they don’t have a harbour in which to practise close-quarter manoeuvring. So crew often travel north to Station 8 (Hout Bay) in order to do so. For Station 2 (Bakoven), it’s the same. These two stations’ largest vessels are 6.5m RIBs, ideal for launching through surf and acting as support boats during towing operations. Yet when their Class 3 coxswains are assessed, they have to prove themselves competent in additional skills such as pacing and rafting up alongside larger vessels, and being able to manoeuvre them into a mooring. These are difficult to learn if your station only

operates with one vessel – as is the case for Bakoven.

The natural solution is to embed cross-station training and this is something that station commanders have been very focused on – ensuring that all trainee coxswains get to practise and hone their skills in conditions similar to what they’ll be assessed in. But it goes beyond this. Each station has slightly different ways of operating. They constantly seek to find better ways of doing things, whether it’s procedures for extricating casualties off rocks or picking them up in a surf zone. This is where cross-station training really comes to the fore. Crew and coxswains alike learn from one another and get exposed to working in different environments, which has immense value. For example: Hout Bay operates three rescue vessels, the

Station 8 (Hout Bay) crosstraining days expose crew from more surf-based stations to the intricacies of boat work.

smallest of which is a JetRIB, used for inshore operations. Even though crew launch from Hout Bay Harbour, Class 4 coxswains have to have a level of competency operating in the surf. To maintain this competency, they regularly train at Station 16 (Strandfontein) and have even travelled as far afield as Station 23 (Wilderness). Both of these stations are known for their high level of physical fitness and excellent inter-crew communications, not to mention surf competency. Operating in unfamiliar surf conditions puts their skills to the test and it’s a hugely valuable learning experience. Hout Bay is only too happy to return the favour.

Strandfontein rescue base is isolated and has frequently been the unfortunate victim of criminal activity. For this reason, as well as being a surf launch station, it doesn’t operate at night. Yet, to be certified, trainee coxswains still have to log a certain number of night hours. They can achieve this at Hout Bay, where they join the crew for routine night exercises and gain valuable experience in operating at sea at night.

Similarly, as the Class 1 vessels are upgraded to ORCs, there’s a need to train crew and coxswains on the specifics of the new vessel. The systems are more advanced and very different to what crew are used to. Of Cape Town’s three Class 1 stations, two are already operating ORCs, namely Station 10 (Simon’s Town) and Station 3 (Table Bay) and this has provided Hout Bay crew and coxswains with an opportunity to train on and familiarise themselves with the ORC. This has the benefit that when the station eventually gets delivery of the ORC, the crew will already be familiar with its operation.

Training in environments and with crew that are familiar is essential, but it’s even more beneficial to move out of that comfort zone sometimes. As stations continue to coordinate training sessions, crew competency is enhanced and stronger relationships are built. You never know what you’ll face when there’s a callout, but you do know you can trust the crew around you.

Sharing skills via cross-training not only increases crew competencies but also builds relationships between crew members.

Left: Night training is mandatory for all trainee coxswains to be certified.

MEET THE INSTRUCTORS

This year marks a milestone for NSRI’s Drowning Prevention Department: watersafety instructors are now operational in all of South Africa’s nine provinces. Meet a few of the amazing people who are empowering the country’s youth to be safe and responsible around water. Compiled by Wendy Maritz

➤ Joined: 8 May 2023

➤ Taught: water safety to 384 children; survival swimming to 167 children

My reason for joining the team was to help everyone stay safe, because it is crucial for kids to comprehend the risks associated with water and how to act in and around water, and all this should be taught at an early age. The most satisfying aspect of my job will always be passing on life skills to others. It gives me the warmest feeling to know that these kids will always be able to swim and feel secure in the water because of my teaching. It’s also rewarding when kids start getting excited to swim even when l am teaching them water safety in class.

Although I had no experience in lifesaving, l was eager to learn when I began working for the NSRI. One of the instructors, Moses Mbhuthuma, taught me how to swim so that I could keep myself and others safe. He gave me the confidence to feel secure around water, which then gave me the ability to advise people on how to stay safe in and around water, which makes me very pleased.

Nelly Mdumbi EASTERN CAPE

Mthandeni Mthethwa MPUMALANGA

➤ Joined: 1 March 2023

➤ Taught: 5 129 children at 25 schools

I joined to teach children about water and safety because I understand the need to raise awareness of and help prevent accidental drownings and other water-related deaths.

It’s rewarding for me to teach and educate; my approach is positive and professional.

My background is in the education field and I also worked as an assistant manager, so I know how to deal with different behaviours. I enjoy facilitating others and in my career I have covered topics like hygiene and new-venture creation. I love what I do, and often volunteer to work late.

➤ Joined: 8 May 2023

➤ Taught: learners in Grades R, 1 and 2 at Spa Park Primary School

I joined the programme to teach water safety because of the love and passion I have for teaching and passing on the message of water safety – as well as the dangers around bodies of water, such as swimming pools, beaches, lakes and rivers.

The most rewarding aspect of my job is when I ask learners some questions about what I was teaching in class and get marvellous answers from them. I see that they have learned what I was teaching!

I come from a lifesaving background working as a seasonal lifeguard and pool supervisor. Sometimes we as a lifesaving club would host a water safety event where we’d go to schools and educate children of all ages about the dangers in and around water. I also used to assist our club instructor with the training of candidates. This involved a range of skills and techniques, including recognising and responding to all emergencies, and the safety of the people in and around water.

Thembalakhe Maphumulo LIMPOPO

➤ Joined: March 2023

➤ Taught: 4 865 people

I have always loved water and swimming, so joining the NSRI as a water safety instructor was a good opportunity for me to teach people, especially children, about water safety. The rewarding part of my job is passing on knowledge that might one day save a life, and knowing that the people I’ve taught have learnt something they will never forget for the rest of their lives.

When I was growing up I loved the water but I couldn’t swim. Fortunately a swimming pool was built in my community and a company called Swimming South Africa was giving free swimming lessons, so I joined up. Later on, I joined Tower 13 to become a beach patrol officer.

Simoné Bantam NORTHERN CAPE

➤ Joined: 1 May 2019

➤ Taught: +-5 000 people in the Northern Cape and +- 5 500 in the Western Cape

I joined to teach water safety at schools because I wanted to help educate kids and young adults on how to properly and safely be around water. As a water safety instructor, I believe it is important to stress the importance of water safety and the dangers that can come with improper aquatics education. I also wanted to use my knowledge and skills in a way that was both educational and engaging.

The most rewarding aspect of being a water safety instructor is providing children with the skills, knowledge and confidence to safely participate in water activities. Being able to teach and empower others to enjoy water-related activities with confidence provides a great sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.

I grew up in a small fishing village on the West Coast; work opportunities were very limited. I obtained my National Diploma in Office Administration at the West Coast College at the Vredendal campus. I started my career at Sea Rescue in May 2019 in the Drakenstein Municipal area and the Cape Winelands District. Although I do not have any formal teaching experience, I did my two-day training session in Ceres, under the guidance of Ms Eoudia Erasmus. I also attended the first-aid training. Working for NSRI has given me the opportunity to facilitate water safety at many of the Boland schools, teaching young children the importance of water safety. It also taught me how to prevent drowning and, in an emergency, to perform CPR and alert the necessary ambulance and the police services. I look forward to continuing to do so in the Northern Cape, which is the largest province in South Africa.

Nokufika Bukatya NORTH WEST

Tseliso Koatla FREE STATE

➤ Joined: 8 May 2023

➤ Taught: 294 learners

I am responsible for water safety in the Free State and started the programme in the Metsimaholo District, Sasolburg. As a qualified lifeguard, lifeguard instructor and swimming coach, joining the NSRI has empowered me to keep water users safe and prevent drowning through the NSRI initiatives. The most rewarding aspect for me is that through the programmes I will be enhancing my skills and knowledge, earning the respect of the public and knowing that my teaching will one day save a life.

Growing up in SA, I was privileged to do competitive swimming and learn lifesaving skills as a youngster. After completing matric I graduated as a teacher and taught for 10 years. I then left teaching to work at the Emerald Casino and later the Emfuleni Local Municipality as a swimming pool superintendent. Since leaving the municipality in 2016, I still conduct swimming and lifesaving classes.

Thulani Gxala EASTERN CAPE

➤ Joined: April 2023

➤ Taught: 414 learners

I joined the water safety programme because I have been doing this kind of work with my lifesaving company since 2016. I love it because it helps decrease the number of drownings/deaths in aquatic areas in our country.

I grew up with lifesaving. I started at the age of 15 in 2001. I have been doing lifesaving classes under Lifesaving SA, and completed three successful classes with Lifeguard Awards, and all my candidates are now working in different places in South Africa. In 2005 my lifeguard club appointed me as a Nipper officer, and I started working with children, doing water and hazard awareness and swimming lessons, and so on.

I then joined the NSRI in 2018, and became a surf rescue swimmer. After that I got the opportunity to work as an assistant instructor doing training with Sam Rorwana, Sarah Sandmann and Matthys Koch in the Wild Coast. (We also made a documentary.) I am now doing coxswain and boat crew training as well.

KIDS’ CLUB KIDS’ CLUB

Fun,

games and lessons for our younger members

DO YOU KNOW YOUR DO YOU KNOW YOUR

beach flags?

Match the safety warning to the beach flag. The answers are below but don’t peek.

Which message goes with the images?

Match the message below in the space provided next to the flag number.

A. High shark alert

B. Lifeguard on duty

C. Spotting conditions good

D. Spotting conditions poor

E. Surfing area: no swimming

F. Only swim where and when lifeguards are on duty and only swim between the flags

G. No swimming

H. Shark spotted (siren will sound, leave the water immediately)

Fill in the words

USING CLUES IN THESE PICTURES OF PEGGY AND NEV USING CLUES IN THESE PICTURES OF PEGGY AND NEV

for an ambulance and clearly answer all their questions.

LET’S MAKE LET’S MAKE

music!

Get together with members of your family or your group of friends and use the lyrics below to make up a song. The theme is water safety, of course! Try rap, reggae, lullaby or hip-hop styles. When you’re done, share it on social media so the world can hear.

PS. if you like, you can change or add more lyrics, but always remember, the theme is water safety.

Adults have a big role to play in supervision: WE ALWAYS:

1. Know where our is.

2. Empty unused of water or seal them with a lid.

3. Learn . It may help you to save a life.

Water is so much fun

Especially in the sun

And if you’re by the poolside

Don’t you dare run.

Those buckets and those baths With water to the brim

The child, the child

We know they can fall in!

Dams are cooling places too

We know you love them, yes you do

But diving into or from rocks

Could land you at the docs.

HIGH DRAMA ON THE DAM WALL

After NSRI Hartbeespoort received reports of a seriously injured casualty, the station’s crew quickly went to work to save a life.

By Wendy Maritz

BEING THE ONLY RESCUE service on and near Hartbeespoort Dam, Station 25 crew see their fair share of callouts. These range from serious situations on the dam, including vessels getting stuck in hyacinth (82 people were rescued from a barge in just such a predicament earlier this year), fires on boats, animal and bird rescues, assisting with emergencies on the rivers surrounding the dam (such as flash floods), home-based rescues, and helping the SAPS to recover bodies.

In early March, the station received a call from SAPS reporting that there was a critically injured female at the southern side of the dam wall. Realising how serious the situation was,

the crew together with SRU (Strategic Rescue Unit) mobilised quickly, taking their rescue vehicle and trailer (already prepped with necessary equipment) and arrived on scene within seven minutes. ‘If the callout is related to the dam wall, we automatically take the trailer,’ says Station 25 station commander Arthur Crewe. ‘And in this particular instance, we also realised we didn’t have much time to get her to hospital, probably 25 minutes tops,’ he adds.

‘We discovered the severely injured casualty on the sluice. The only way to get to her was down the dam wall. Monique Crewe and Keagan Crewe kitted up and, using specialised safety rigging, descended first to assess and then begin stabilising her. She was conscious and talking to the crew,’ Arthur explains. In addition to her neck and back injuries, the dam was in flood and the sluice itself covered with water. They knew they had a challenging rescue on their hands.

‘We also had to strategise how to get the paramedics to her and how we would evacuate her. Using a helicopter was not an option because of the wind. And taking her back up the dam wall was far too dangerous.’

‘We contacted Madibeng Water to start the process of closing the sluices, and called ambulance services. The water on the sluice subsided somewhat, but the remaining sludge can be very dangerous and slippery. We also had to strategise how to get the paramedics to her and how we would evacuate her. Using a helicopter was not an option because of the wind. And taking her back up the dam wall was far too dangerous.’

Arthur was keenly aware that time was not on their side. So, a decision was made to rig rope lines across the sluice – the safest option was to transport the casualty to the other side of the sluice. ‘It was very tricky,’ he adds. But doing things this way would also be time efficient as, once on

With limited time available, Hartbeespoort and SRU crew decided the quickest and safest way to extricate the casualty was across the sluices.

the other side, she could be carried on land, albeit through some rough terrain filled with thorn trees, to the roadway and taken to hospital.

This evacuation involved the use of high-angle and swift-water technical gear and expertise. NSRI crew have been trained and are highly skilled in this kind of work, which often means the difference between life and death.

With the use of the rigging, the casualty was successfully and safely transported across the sluice and taken to the waiting ambulance. The entire rescue lasted about 25 minutes.

This evacuation involved the use of high-angle and swift-water technical gear and expertise. NSRI crew have been trained and are highly skilled in this kind of work, which often means the difference between life and death. On average, about five callouts per season involve ropework of some kind. Arthur recalls a seven-hour rescue that involved removing a family from their vessel which was stuck in the hyacinth. ‘The water wasn’t deep, prob-

ably only 30cm, but underneath that is silt, which can literally suck you under. So we had to set up safety lines between the casualty vessel and ours, and then our rescue swimmers assisted each family member to safety.’

Station 25 has been in service for 20 years this year. We commend the crew for their agility and the teamwork involved in bringing the severely injured casualty to safety, and we are deeply grateful to them for keeping a watchful eye on and assisting visitors to the dam during emergencies.

AGM & AWARDS EVENING

On Friday 21 July, the NSRI celebrated its 56th Annual Awards Evening and AGM at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. We celebrated our dedicated volunteers and other individuals who risked their lives to save the lives of others on South African waters.

BRAVERY AWARDS

Gold Award

➤ Edward Gutsche for his heroic actions on 1 October 2022 when he saved four lives at Port Alfred’s Kelly Beach.

Silver Award

➤ Reza Yon for his courageous actions on 25 September 2022, when he went to the assistance of three teenagers caught in a rip current off Mnandi Beach, tragically losing his life in the process.

Bronze Awards

➤ Chris Sparg, Courtney Sparg and Cameron Sparg for their heroic actions

on 29 June 2022 when they managed to prevent three overboard crew from being run down by their unmanned boat off the Krom River Mouth, St Francis.

➤ Simon Bekker for his courageous actions on 11 December 2022, when he, along with three other Good Samaritans, rescued two teenagers at Eerste Rivier Beach in Tsitsikamma.

➤ Divan Prinsloo and Coenraad Prinsloo for their brave actions on 7 October 2022 when they rescued four swimmers in difficulty at Leentjiesklip Beach in Wilderness.

Edward Gutsche

Captain Dean Nieuwoudt

From let: Chris, Courtney and Cameron Sparg; Simon Bekker; Divan and Coenraad Prinsloo.

➤ Andrew Elcock for demonstrating immense courage on 30 April 2023, when he rescued an eight-year-old boy caught in a rip off Clifton’s First Beach.

GALLANTRY AWARDS

Bronze Awards

➤ João Felizardo for his brave actions on 13 August 2022 when he saved the life of a man at Port Alfred’s West Pier.

➤ Quentin Power for his brave actions on 4 December 2022 when he saved two teenagers’ lives at Salmon Bay.

MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARDS

➤ Station 34, Yzerfontein, for their prompt and effective actions in rescuing four individuals clinging to the hull of their capsized vessel on 6 July 2022.

➤ Station 20, Shelly Beach, for their prompt and effective action in rescuing two injured crew members of a bulk carrier after an onboard accident.

➤ Station 23, Wilderness, for their prompt and effective actions in responding to multiple incidents on Saturday and Sunday, 26 and 27 November 2022, at Wilderness Beach and nearby areas.

➤ Boetie Fourie, skipper of the Umfondini, who, on Friday, 14 April 2023, diverted his fishing vessel to assist 26 seamen adrift in a life raft after abandoning their ship which was on fire, south of Cape Point.

➤ Station 22 (Vaal Dam), Station 25 (Hartbeespoort Dam), Station 27 (Gauteng) and Station 35 (Witbank Dam) for their prompt and effective actions in responding to calls for assistance during an extended period of flash floods in Gauteng in early December 2022.

➤ Jonathan Kellerman for his outstanding dedication and contributions

Below, left to right: Station 34 (Yzerfontein) receives a Meritorious Service Award: Station 20 (Shelly Beach) receives a Meritorious Service Award; Jonathan Kellerman is recognised for his outstanding dedication and contribution to the NSRI over the past eight years.

to the NSRI over the past eight years.

➤ Marc de Vos for his exceptional contributions and dedication to the NSRI over the past 13 years.

From far left: Andrew Elcock; João Felizardo; Quentin Power; Stations 22, 25, 27 and 35 receive Meritorious Service Awards; Marc de Vos.

➤ THE MOST IMPROVED STATION OF THE YEAR: Station 4, Mykonos

➤ THE BEST RIB STATION OF THE YEAR: Station 14, Plettenberg Bay

➤ THE PAT O’SULLIVAN TROPHY: Station 5, Durban

DIRECTORS’ LETTER OF THANKS

➤ Presented to Captain Dean Nieuwoudt, Metro Police SAR Unit Commander, for his heroic actions on 31 December 2021, during the disastrous floods in KwaZulu-Natal. Responding to a flash flood emergency at Lusaka Informal Settlement, Captain Nieuwoudt rescued and resuscitated a four-year-old girl who had been washed away.

➤ Presented to Tamsanqa ‘Lucky’ Ntuli, the skipper of Escape Cat, for his swift actions on 5 March 2023 when he alerted Cape Town Port and nearby vessels of a man overboard (MOB) from the harbour wall in the Victoria & Albert harbour basin, and then immediately went to the assistance of the man in the water.

THE MARMION MARSH AWARD

This year the Marmion Marsh Award was given to Andrew Ingram. Andrew has made significant contributions to various projects, including the NSRI’s School Water Safety Programme, the Pink Rescue Buoy initiative, and the Survival Swimming Centres, earning the department recognition from the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF).

Tamsanqa ‘Lucky’ Ntuli

THE ALRIC SIMPSON FLOATING TROPHY

This prestigious trophy, which is presented to an organisation that has provided exceptional service to the NSRI, was awarded to Two Oceans Marine Manufacturing for their significant contribution to saving lives on South African waters.

LONG-SERVICE AWARDS

20 years

Morne Dettmer: Station 4, Mykonos

Jacques Kruger: Station 5, Durban

Lorenzo Taverna-Turisan: Station 5, Durban

Mike Whittal: Station 6, Gqeberha

Kevin Warren: Station 6, Gqeberha

Paul Leong: Station 8, Hout Bay

Gerhard Potgieter: Station 27, Gauteng

Jacobus Louw, Station 30, Agulhas

25 years and Honorary Life Membership

Krista Lazzari: Station 1, Volunteer Support Centre

Paula Leech: Station 3, Table Bay

Adrian James: Station 6, Gqeberha

Alan Singmin: Station 6, Gqeberha

30 years

Craig Lambinon: Station 1, Volunteer Support Centre

Malcolm Manion: Station 5, Durban

Andrew de Kock: Station 10, Simon’s Town

Keryn van der Walt: Station 11, Port Alfred

André Jerling: Station 14, Plettenberg Bay

Hennie Niehaus: Station 23, Wilderness

35 years

Stephanie Daniels: Station 1, Volunteer Support Centre

Graeme Harding: Station 1, Volunteer Support Centre

Andrew Matthews: Station 8, Hout Bay

Spencer Oldham: Station 8, Hout Bay

Steph Le Roux: Station 14, Plettenberg Bay

Dawie Zwiegelaar: Station 15, Mossel Bay

40 years

Howard Bell: Station 2, Bakoven

Johnny Albert: Station 2, Bakoven (received by David Rosenberg)

Erwin Selk: Station 10, Simon’s Town

45 years

Mark Hughes: Station 1, Volunteer Support Centre

David Roberts: Station 10, Simon’s Town (received by Simon McDonnell)

55 years

Ian Strachan: Station 1, Volunteer Support Centre

The NSRI wishes to thank the following sponsors that helped make our AGM and Awards possible. We appreciate your support:

The Avenue Conference Centre at the V&A Waterfront, Backstage AV, The Commodore Hotel, Stettyn Wines, Andrew Ingram Photography, MC and Host Bobby Brown

FAREWELL, SAMUEL MBENYANE

IT is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the untimely passing of Samuel Mbenyane. We are both shocked and saddened by this tragic event.

Sam was not only a crew member of Sea Rescue Station 36/46, but also a close friend and brother to many of us.

We offer our sincerest condolences to his family during this difficult time.

Losing a loved one is never easy, and the pain must be unimaginable.

Our thoughts and prayers are with them as they navigate through this difficult time.

Sam’s memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.

A friend, colleague, son, broth er, husband, father and pillar of hope in his community.

His passing is a reminder to us all of the fragility of life and the

importance of cherishing every moment we have with those we love.

Rest in peace, Samuel, you will be deeply missed.

STATION 36 (OYSTER BAY) CREW

OUR hearts are filled with deep sorrow as we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and fellow members of Station 36 (Oyster Bay) and Station 46 (Storms River) on the loss of Samuel Mbenyane.

Samuel’s passing leaves a void that will be deeply felt by all who had the privilege of knowing him. His leadership, unwavering devotion and dedication to his community have left an indelible mark, creating a lasting legacy that will continue to inspire and guide us.

Rest in eternal peace, Samuel. Your contributions and impact will forever be cherished and remembered.

STATION 37

(JEFFREYS

BAY) CREW

TRUE SEAMANSHIP

SOUTH African solo sailor Kirsten Neuschäfer took top honours in the 2022 Golden Globe Race, becoming not only the first woman to win the race, but also the first woman to win an around-the-world yacht race via the three great capes, crewed or solo. The Golden Globe Race is recognised as one of the most demanding races in the world. Not the least of its challenges is that, according to race rules, entrants must sail in yachts and use equipment similar to what was available to Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the winner of the original 1968-69 race. This means they sail without the use of modern technology such as satellite-based navigation aids. The safety equipment they carry onboard, such as EPIRBS (emergency position-indicating radio beacon) and AIS (Automatic Identification System), is only allowed to be used in an emergency.

The 2022 race started on 4 September, and saw 16 sailors set off on their solo cicumnavigations, a journey that could take up to 250 days to complete.

During her race, Kirsten, along with two other sailors, diverted to assist fellow sailor Tapio Lehtinen, whose Gaia 36 Asteria started taking on water and subsequently sank within 25 minutes, leaving the stricken sailor on his life raft about 450nm south of Port Elizabeth. Kirsten reached him first, taking him on board before assisting with his transfer to a container ship in the area.

‘Kirsten’s rescue was a testament to her skill and humanity. Just navigating and finding the casualty is challenging enough but she found him, got the life raft alongside and then recovered him onto her yacht, where they shared a rum. She then managed to bring her yacht alongside a container vessel and successfully transferred Tapio onto the pilot ladder and up onto the ship. The skill and risks involved are incredible. She did an amazing job.’ said Dr Cleeve Robertson, NSRI CEO.

Kirsten was awarded a Bronze Bravery Award by the NSRI Awards Committee. She plans to pop into Head Office to receive her award when she is back from her travels.

‘Kirsten’s rescue was a testament to her skill and humanity. Just navigating and finding the casualty is challenging enough but she found him, got the life raft alongside and then recovered him onto her yacht, where they shared a rum.’

NSRI CEO Dr Cleeve Roberson

HONOURED FOR THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE

ON 25 September 2022, Reza Yon went to the assistance of three teenagers caught in a rip current off Mnandi Beach, tragically losing his life in the process. Reza was honoured with a Silver Bravery Award at this year’s AGM, which his mother, Miriam Essop, and members of his family accepted.

After noticing the teenagers in trouble and knowing the alarm had been raised and the NSRI was on its way, Reza realised immediate action was necessary to save them. Armed with his body board, he swam out to two of the teenagers and got them to hold onto the board and tread water while he went to assist the third teenager, whom he began swimming towards the beach. Without the support of the body board, Reza battled but managed to bring the youngster closer in-shore where friends had waded in to meet them. The NSRI arrived on scene and rescued the two teenagers with the body board and brought them ashore. Crew then began looking for Reza who had disappeared in the waves. He was found and brought to shore where CPR efforts began. Sadly in vain. Reza’s bravery and selfless actions that day undoubtedly played a major role in saving the lives of the three teenagers. He will be remembered for this ultimate sacrifice.

HAPPY 5TH

Congratulations to the four stations that all turn five this year!

BIRTHDAY

Station 40 (St Lucia)

Station 43 (Port Nolloth)

HIGGINS & LANGLEY AWARDS KZN BASES FOR THEIR RESCUE EFFORTS DURING THE FLOODS OF ’22

NSRI KZN Stations 5, 39 and 41 were nominated for and received the Higgins & Langley Outstanding Achievement Award. This award recognises excellence in swiftwater and flood rescue. It signifies an intense dedication to the field and a genuine desire to benefit the larger community responsible for the service. Safety, competence, and far-reaching impact are key criteria. Only one award may be presented in any calendar year.

These awards are not heroism awards; they recognise preparedness, teamwork, and a job performed often under extreme conditions, where training is vital to the success of rescue missions and the safety of rescue personnel.

CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL

THE ocean sunfish, aka mola-mola, is one of the largest fish in the world, and can often be seen floating on its side – sunbathing – in the summer months along the Cape coast. Recently, Station 18 (Melkbosstrand) duty crew received a call from the NSRI Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to assist in the rescue of a sunfish that had washed up near some rocks in Big Bay, Melkbosstrand. Rescue crew launched the

‘Higgins & Langley awarded four “Incident Awards” this year but the Outstanding Achievement Award is the top one as only one per year is awarded. So this is a significant achievement for us to be recognised on an international platform against international peers (their nominees were from Australia and the USA), so not a small achievement),’ says Clifford Ireland, NSRI KwaZulu-Natal Regional Representative. The Higgins and Langley Memorial Awards were established in 1993 by members of the Swiftwater Rescue Committee of the National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR) in honour of Earl Higgins, a writer and filmmaker who lost his life in 1980 while rescuing a child who was swept down the flood-swollen Los Angeles River, and Jeffrey Langley, a Los Angeles County Fire Department firefighter-paramedic, who lost his life in a helicopter incident in 1993.

station’s JetRIB from Small Bay to the site, then carefully lifted the fish on board, intending to transport it beyond the break line to avoid the currents that had brought it to shore. After being released, it hung around for a while before swimming off. Thanks to the lifeguards on duty and Hout Bay Seal rescue for their assistance.

ORC NR 5 FOR RICHARDS BAY

IN early June, Graeme Harding and crew (NSRI Training Officers Dean Wegerle and Julian Singh, Operational Station Manager

Charl Maritz, and Durban Duty Coxswain Paul Bevis) left Cape Town on a 1 068nm journey to deliver ORC (Offshore Rescue Craft) nr 5 to its new home at Station 19 (Richards Bay).

The ORC programme is an ambitious one, introduced by the NSRI to replace an ageing fleet. The ORC is a search and rescue craft built entirely in South Africa, by South Africans; it is self-righting and purpose-built for rescue operations in extreme conditions. At 14.8m long and 4.8m wide, it can be deployed on rescue missions as far as 50nm from land and has an expected lifespan of at least 40 years.

The fifth ORC to date, Rescue 19 – Ocean Guardian – will be able to cover the northern coastline of KwaZulu-Natal up to the border of Mozambique from its base in Richards Bay, the most northern Class 1 station.

‘We are very fortunate to have such a fine purpose-built rescue craft, and we thank our donors and all who have made this a reality,’ says Richards Bay station commander, Mike Patterson.

The NSRI would like to thank Island View Shipping (IVS), which contributed a generous donation to the financing of Ocean Guardian.

SPIRIT OF GABI BOAT BLESSING

STATION 8 (Hout Bay) recently received a new JetRIB, Spirit of Gabi, thanks to a generous bequest from the estate of the late Dr Gabrielle Jacqueline De Bie. Gabi, as she was known to her friends, was an avid NSRI supporter and loved the ocean. She often assisted with beach clean-ups and was passionate about conservation and the preservation of our oceans. She obtained her NSRI Shore Crew certificate, and was also a trained guide for the Two Oceans Aquarium. She loved kayaking, surfing, wind-surfing, scuba diving, swimming and snorkelling, and was recognised for her extensive knowledge of the oceans.

To date, more than 150 lives (that we know of) have been saved through the use of NSRI’s Pink Rescue Buoys.

SANTAM TO THE RESCUE WITH JETRIB FOR STRANDFONTEIN

WE were devastated earlier this year when Station 16 (Strandfontein) was the victim of theft and vandalism. The base’s JetRIB was stolen from the station and its burn-out remains (with hull destroyed and engine stolen) were discovered some kilometres away. We were heartened by the support we received after this event, and thank the broader community and SAPS for their assistance. But the fact remains that a valuable and expensive piece of lifesaving equipment was destroyed. While our equipment is insured, the act of theft set us back in the rollout of the JetRIBs to our surf-rescue based stations.

Santam stepped in and kindly sponsored a new JetRIB for the station and we’re extrememly grateful to them for their generosity.

The NSRI’s revolutionary JetRIB can face the most challenging surf conditions with ease, speeding up our response time considerably. We need your help to deploy even more!

SCAN THE QR CODE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND HELP SAVE LIVES

NSRI SSC FOR OVERSEAS SHOW

ON Saturday 24 June, Survival Swimming Centre (SSC) 4 was transported to Cape Town Harbour to be later loaded onto a ship bound for Spain and the biggest swimming pool show in the world. Thanks to Fundació Fluidra, SSC4 will be on display at the globally recognised Piscina & Wellness show taking place in Barcelona from 27 to 30 November this year. Our heartfelt thanks to Fluidra South Africa which has been supplying the filtration systems for all our Survival Swimming Centres.

PLATINUM PARTNERS

OUR THANKS TO KENTON-ON-SEA ROTARY CLUB

STRATEGIC PARTNERS

THE Rotary Club of Kenton-on-Sea has been fundraising to assist NSRI Port Alfred to open a satellite station in Kenton-on-Sea. To date, the club has raised nearly R1 000 000. This is a huge achievement! The small coastal town is situated in the Eastern Cape about halfway between East London and Gqeberha, and about 26km by road from Port Alfred. Having a satellite station here will greatly increase response times for callouts. Our grateful thanks to the Rotary Club for their dedicated fundraising efforts.

GOLD PARTNERS

A&M Logistics (Pty) Ltd / Amsol

/ Applied Mineral Technologies

(Pty) Ltd / Barpro Storage SA

(Pty) Ltd / Bearfish (Pty) Ltd

/ Cohesive Capital (Pty) Ltd

/ Denso (Pty) Ltd / Denys

Edwardes (Pty) Ltd / Hoegh

Autoliners (Pty) Ltd / Kelp

Products (Pty) Ltd / Komicx

Products (Pty) Ltd / MACS

Maritime Carrier Shipping (Pty) Ltd / Marlyn Vulindlela (Pty) Ltd

/ Mix Telematics International

(Pty) Ltd / NCS Resins /

Producer Ally (Pty) Ltd /

Richards Bay Coal Terminal

(Pty) Ltd / Right ePharmacy

/ Ruwekus Fishing (Pty) Ltd /

Storm Plant Hire (Pty) Ltd /Two

Oceans Aquarium Trust /United Mining Services Group

Our grateful thanks to NJR Steel in Cape Town for providing us with safe and secure storage for our 10.6m rescue vessel until the new St Francis Bay base building is ready to receive her.

THANK

YOU FOR DONATIONS RECEIVED

IN MEMORY OF: Mark Koen, Antonio John Mentoor, Carl Dyason, Mrs JM Smith, Mr NGO Acker, Alison Rosenberg, Brenda Ferguson

IN HONOUR OF: Jen Botha (birthday), Kennedy (70th birthday), Mrs Golda Sher (90th birthday)

BUILT FOR SPEED

While mantis shrimps typically grow to around 10cm, they boast possibly the fastest hunting strike in the animal kingdom. Naturalist Georgina Jones reveals more about these fascinating creatures that have also mastered the art of deception quite well.

Though they spend the bulk of their lives in burrows or caves, when it comes to hunting, mantis shrimps are all about speed. And their bodies are superbly adapted to this purpose.

Mantis shrimps are named for the resemblance their striking limbs have to those of praying mantises. The family first diverged from the rest of the crustaceans nearly 400 million years ago, and the ancestors of all modern species are recognisable in the fossil record from nearly 200 million years ago. There are about 450 known species, generally divided into spearers and smashers.

Spearing mantis shrimps hunt by impaling their prey on their raptorial claws and smashers use a hardened club to smash their prey. Researchers have found their strikes range in speed from 10 to 23m/s (36-83km/h) – probably the fastest hunting strike in the animal kingdom.

Studies on the hunting limbs suggested a power amplification mechanism was being used: the limbs have a muscle that contracts slowly over time and then is latched once contracted so that when it unlatches, the stored energy is released rapidly, contributing to the strike speed.

So fast is the strike, in fact, that mantis shrimps also use the extremes of fluid dynamics to overwhelm their prey. Cavitation damage is well known to mariners. It is caused when areas of water close to each other move at radically different speeds and generate areas of such low pressure that the water turns to gas and forms a short-lived bubble. When the bubble collapses, it emits sound, light and heat – the heat being close to the

temperature of the surface of the sun for a brief instant – and the cavitation bubble produced along with the mantis shrimps’ strike is what does the most damage to their prey.

It also damages the mantis shrimps. Though they have thick layers of chitin and nanocrystal shock absorbers below their exoskeletons, the hunting clubs of smashers have been observed worn right through to the flesh. They solve this problem every time they moult, when they replace their entire exoskeletons.

In order to strike so fast, however, they need to see really well. And in fact, mantis shrimps have the most complex eyes known. Each eye is mounted on a stalk and is capable of independent movement. These are compound eyes and each is divided into three parts, giving mantis shrimps effective trinocular vision in each eye, so that each eye is capable of depth perception. In addition to this, mantis shrimps have between 12 and 16

Opposite: A peacock mantis shrimp peeping out from its rocky lair. Above: Spearing mantis shrimps have oval eyes.

photoreceptors. They can see wavelengths from the deep ultraviolet to far into the red spectrum as well as polarised light. Compared to human beings, with only four photoceptors, this seems as though mantis shrimps must see amazingly more than we do. But mantis shrimp vision is all about speed. So where human beings have many colour-specific neurons, mantis shrimps rather have the image processing happen in their eyes, so that the signal to their brains can be processed for action really quickly, rather than requiring a larger brain for image processing.

It is thought that their extreme variety of photoreceptors allows them to detect different types of coral, transparent or UV-emitting prey species, or predators. Also, their pair of depth-perceiving eyes gives them instant accurate information on where to aim their strikes at speed.

Other parts of their visual systems aren’t for speed: mantis shrimps fluoresce during mating rituals, and female fertility is linked to the lunar cycle, so mantis shrimp eyes of course are adapted to detect both fluorescence and the phase of the moon.

Mantis shrimps can live for up to 20 years and can have up to 30 breeding cycles. Some species will lay their eggs in a burrow while others carry the eggs around with them until they hatch. In some cases, the female will lay two sets of eggs, one for each parent to tend. In others, there is egg care by both parents,

or the female cares for the eggs while the male hunts for her food. After hatching, the larvae may spend up to three months in the open ocean before settling out onto the reef or sand that will be their adult home.

As they grow, they grow out of their exoskeletons, and must moult. Useful, as mentioned earlier, for replacing hunting damage. But during moulting they are unable to strike. So mantis shrimps bluff. Their behaviour becomes increasingly aggressive pre-moult, and they make sure to strike at anything and everything that comes near their burrows. During moult, if not safely hidden, they continue to wave their striking limbs around. With luck, enough predators have been effectively intimidated by their previous aggressive behaviour to allow them to complete their moults and continue their high-speed hunting lives.

Above: A rare glimpse of a mantis out of its shelter. Left: Smashing mantis shrimps have spherical eyes.

PHOTOGRAPHS: GEORGINA JONES

FISH TALES

2. How many known species are there?

3. How fast can they strike?

4. Their eyes are on …..

Find the words

See if you can find the following words:

Mantis

Shrimps

Smasher

Quiz A K C A A D H F R

Mantis shrimps are amazing creatures. Test your knowledge

Have some fun and colour the mantis shrimp in your favourite colours!

Moult Egg Larvae V P I S P E E D S

shrimps live?

7. How many breeding cycles do they have?

8. When moulting, mantis shrimps are unable to …….

E V R M Y H C M H

V L Z S X N I E I

R A P H S C T J M

A T E E O A I I P

L S B R W T N G S

Z T Q L A U L O N M O E G N U G V K

NSRI BASE LOCATIONS

The NSRI is manned by more than 1 445 volunteers at over 50 rescue bases, including satellite or auxiliary stations and inland dams. In addition, more than 20 seasonal Lifeguard Units have been established around the country.

Strandfontein (West Coast)

Lambert’s Bay

44 St Helena Bay (Satellite)

NORTHERN CAPE

Yzerfontein Melkbosstrand

Bakoven

Hout Bay

Kommetjie

10 15 8 26 2 12 43

18 9 42

23 16

Simon’s Town

Strandfontein

3 46 | SEA RESCUE WINTER 2023

Muizenberg to Monwabisi (Satellites) Gordon’s Bay Strand (Satellite)

33

31

Mossel Bay Sedgefield Herolds Bay (Satellites) 14 30

Port Nolloth

Theewaterskloof Dam

Kleinmond Agulhas

SSC 2: Tombo Village

SSC 3: Mgolemi

PLEASE CONTACT ALISON SMITH IF YOU CAN ASSIST WITH ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:

› Data projectors and speakers or flatscreen 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

GENERAL NEEDS RESCUE BASES

› 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

EASTERN CAPE

46 076 092 2465 Storms River

36 082 990 5968 Oyster Bay

21 082 990 5969 St Francis Bay

37 079 916 0390 Jeffreys Bay

06 082 990 0828 Gqeberha

11 082 990 5971 Port Alfred

49 087 094 9774 Mdumbi (Aux)

47 076 100 2829 Kei Mouth (Aux)

07 082 990 5972 East London

28 082 550 5430 Port St Johns

KZN

32 082 990 5951 Port Edward

20 082 990 5950 Shelly Beach

39 072 652 5158 Rocky Bay

41 063 699 2687 Ballito

05 082 990 5948 Durban

50 082 990 5948 Umhlanga

19 082 990 5949 Richards Bay

40 063 699 2722 St Lucia

MPUMALANGA

35 060 962 2620 Witbank Dam

GAUTENG

27 060 991 9301 Gauteng

NORTH WEST

25 082 990 5961 Hartbeespoort Dam

FREE STATE

22 072 903 9572 Vaal Dam

51 082 757 2206 Gariep Dam EMERGENCY

087 094 9774

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

MAKE A DIRECT DONATION ON OUR WEBSITE OR USE ONE OF THE OPTIONS BELOW.

FOR DEPOSITS AND EFTS

ABSA Heerengracht

Branch code: 506 009

Account number: 1382480607

Account holder: National Sea Rescue Institute

Swift code: ABSA-ZA-JJ

PAY ONLINE: https://www.nsri.org.za/ support-us/donate

If you choose to do an EFT, please use your telephone number as a unique reference so that we are able to acknowledge receipt, or email your proof of payment to info@searescue.org.za.

Scan this QR code or visit the link below to pay using SnapScan. https://pos.snapscan.io/qr/ STB4C055

Please use your cellphone number as base/project reference so we can acknowledge your donation.

nsri.org.za

Scan this QR code or visit the link below to pay using Zapper.

https://www.zapper.com/ url/KU1oB

Please use your cellphone number as base/project reference so we can acknowledge your donation.

DONATE BY SNAPSCAN

DONATE BY ZAPPER

RELIABILITY YOU CAN TRUST WHEN SAVING LIVES.