The NSRI’s innovative Pink Buoy rescue system has contributed to saving the 80th life since it was launched in South Africa in 2017.
Sea Point, South Africa (08 November 2021) – The NSRI have shared the news that the innovative Pink Buoy has contributed to its 80th life-saving rescue.
The NSRI Pink buoys are placed across beaches in South Africa as a way to help prevent drowning. The concept of the buoy is for the public to use it while they wait for a lifeguard or emergency services.
The NSRI released their pink buoys in 2017 after noticing a similarity in the various scenarios where drownings occurred.
‘On Saturday, 6 November, at around 16h30, an NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy and Good Samaritans contributed to saving the life of a young teenager who was being swept out to sea in a rip current at Rocklands Beach, Sea Point.
Kerry Feldman, from Tokai, formerly from Johannesburg, and a former rescue coordinator at The Mountain Club of South Africa, while cycling with her children in Sea Point, noticed a commotion at Rocklands Beach and on investigating she saw a young girl being swept out to sea.
Someone had thrown the NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy from its pole stationed at Three Anchor Bay to the girl, and the buoy was washing towards the girl in the same rip current, said Kerry.
Kerry raised the alarm alerting NSRI while 2 Good Samaritans, Duane Povey, 33, formerly from Durban and now residing in Somerset West, and a man only identified as Matt, assessed the situation and decided to assist, and both of them entered the water.
By that stage, the buoy had reached the girl, and she was attempting to hold onto the buoy.
Duane has told NSRI that although he is not a strong swimmer, he committed to entering the water because the pink rescue buoy had already reached the girl, giving him, and he believes Matt also, the confidence to enter the water because the floatation object was already in play.
NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) and NSRI Table Bay duty crew were alerted.
Duane and Matt reached the girl about 30 to 40 meters off-shore, and they assisted her in getting a better grip on the pink rescue buoy and between them, they swam the girl safely to shore.
The girl was not injured, and she was returned into the care of her family members.
NSRI commended the public members who threw the NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy to the girl. Kerry is commended for raising the alarm and helping out on the scene after the girl came ashore, and Duane and Matt are commended for their efforts that contributed to saving the girls life.
This is the 80th life saved with the contribution of an NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy since the inception of the NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy program that was initiated in 2017, said NSRI drowning prevention manager Andrew Ingram.’
The NSRI urges community members to become pink lifesavers by reporting any missing pink rescue buoys to their Emergency Operations Centre on 021 434 4011. Your report could save a life. Fortuin also urged water users to immediately call the emergency numbers on the Pink Rescue Buoy sign or 112 from their cell phone for help if someone is in danger of drowning.
You can save lives too by sponsoring a Pink Rescue Buoy for a community in need at the cost of R1500 per buoy or by supporting the NSRI’s drowning prevention initiatives.
You can see the various way to donate here: www.nsri.org.za/donate.
If you would like to volunteer and assist the NSRI in protecting and maintaining the buoys, please contact pinkrescuebuoys@searescue.org.za
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