GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - A husband and wife and their woman friend were rescued at Glentana after they were tapped on the rocks by the incoming Spring high tide on Saturday, 6 July.
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Mossel Bay duty coxswain Dawie Zwiegelaar said in a statement that the crew were activated to assist the three at about 16:00 on Saturday.
He said NSRI rescue swimmers, in their private vehicles, an NSRI rescue vehicle carrying NSRI rescue swimmers and Mossel Bay Fire and Rescue Services responded, while the Western Cape Government Health Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and the Police's Water Policing and Diving Services remained on alert.
"On arrival on the scene we located the nearest access point to the three adults who were trapped by the high tide on rocks over a gulley," said Zwiegelaar.
"Two NSRI rescue swimmers, assisted by two local community members - good Samaritans who are familiar with the area with local knowledge and who volunteered to assist us - accessed the gulley down a cliff path and waded through waist-deep water, timing the incoming wave sets. During a lull in the incoming waves they reached the three."
He said life jackets were placed on the trio and they were helped by the NSRI rescue swimmers and the two good Samaritans in reaching the mainland and traversing a cliff. Zwiegelaar said the three required no further assistance once they reached the main car park.
He commended three people, who were visiting the area from Johannesburg, for raising the alarm and waiting for assistance rather than risking wading through the channel or waiting for low tide which would have only been well after 22:00.
"The two local good Samaritans are commended for their assistance in this operation," said Zwiegelaar.
He said the operation was completed just after 18:30.
The NSRI also urged the public to follow the South African Weather Service's (SAWS) forecast weather updates and adhere to the weather warnings.
The NSRI statement noted that rough sea conditions are forecast by the SAWS to spread around the coastline. It said rough seas and gale-force winds are causing hazardous inshore sea conditions and hazardous shoreline conditions compounded by the spring tide in places.
It also appealed to the commercial maritime industry, urging them to wear life jackets while at sea.
The statement noted that conditions are compounded by the current cold front during the new moon Spring tide that peaked in the early hours of Saturday morning and that will extend into the middle of this week.
The NSRI appealed for extreme sports and sport fishing craft preferably not to launch in these current inclement weather conditions. Anglers and coastal hikers should be aware of the Spring high tide with shoreline conditions compounded by rough seas, that may cut off coastline areas during the high tide.
"Inland waterways, rivers, lakes and dams are expected, in places, to flood and/or swell where heavy rainfall is forecast by the SAWS." Do not cross flooded roadways or cross bridges over riverways that are submerged by swollen rivers, it is advised.
"The NSRI, maritime authorities, local municipalities, emergency services, the police, and Disaster Risk Management are on high alert," the statement read.
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