MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) was called out to three incidents in Mossel Bay waters which took place in the period, 18 August and 24 August.
In a statement, Johan Ehlers, the NSRI Mossel Bay duty coxswain, noted that on Saturday, 24 August, the Mossel Bay NSRI crew were activated following reports of a man who had fallen overboard a fishing vessel that was moored in the harbour.
Ehlers said the man was reported to be in the water in the harbour.
Rescue swimmers
He said NSRI rescue swimmers went to the scene, while additional NSRI crew responded to the NSRI Mossel Bay Station 15 rescue base to prepare to launch rescue craft.
Western Cape EMS also responded.
When the crew arrived, it was found the man had retrieved from the water his his fellow crewmen and was back on the vessel
Ehlers said he was treated by NSRI medics and EMS paramedics for hypothermia and then transported to hospital in a stable condition.
Duty crew
On Thursday, 22 August, the NSRI duty crew responded to reports from a Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) security guard suspecting there was a person in distress in the water at the Mossel Bay Yacht Club.
Ehlers said the guard had heard cries for help coming from the direction of the harbour area at the yacht club and it appeared there were splashes in the water.
The guard raised the alarm for help.
Ehlers said NSRI rescue swimmers, the police and Western Cape Government Health Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responded and the NSRI rescue craft, St Blaize Rescuer, was launched.
Search
He said an extensive search of the area, and out to sea, revealed no signs of anyone in distress and there were no reports of anyone missing.
He said the NSRI monitored the situation, but there were not further reports of anyone missing.
Ehlers said: "The NSRI commends the security guard for raising the alarm swiftly."
He said it may have been a false alarm, with good intentions, and the NSRI monitored the situation.
Crafts
On 18 August, the team launched rescue crafts, Spirit of Safmarine III and St Blaize Rescuer to recover a local, unmanned sailing yacht that broke from moorings at the Mossel Bay harbour.
Ehlers said the yacht was returned back to the moorings by NSRI Mossel Bay without incident.
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