The NSRI were on the ground in Mossel Bay to help the community during recent flooding; making use of their boats, they transported people to safety.
Mossel Bay, South Africa (23 October 2023) – Over the weekend, the NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew answered the call to assist the community that was stuck on the other side of a flooded road. The team helped rescue 83 people in their efforts.
JC Roos, NSRI Mossel Bay station commander shared how the team was called to assist with rescue efforts by the Mossel Bay Fire and Rescue Services after the Geelbek Vlei River, near to Brandwacht, overflowed and made it impossible to cross.
“At 16h12, Saturday, 21 October, NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from Mossel Bay Fire and Rescue Services reporting employees of a local business stranded at a road, cut off by swollen flooding conditions, at the Geelbek Vlei River, near to Brandwacht.
A secondary exit had been investigated, by the large group of local employees of the local business, attempting to go home from a day at work but that roadway had also been cut off by flooding.
SAWS (South African Weather Service) had forecast heavy rainfall for the area.
An NSRI rescue vehicle, towing our NSRI JetRib and NSRI volunteers personal vehicles, with a personal NSRI volunteers pencil duck, WC Government Health EMS, Eden Lifesaving, using a pencil duck rescue craft, Mossel Bay Fire and Rescue Services, EDR, DRM (Disaster Risk Management), SA Police Services, SAPS Sea Borderline Control and SAPS Water Policing and Dive Services, using their Police boat, responded.
83 adults, males and females, secured into life-jackets, without incident were ferried across the river in relays, aboard the 4 rescue craft, where they were able to then take their arranged transport to their homes.
There were no injuries.
The swift response and cooperation between services is commended.
The operation completed at 19h30.” – JC Roos, NSRI Mossel Bay
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is a charity organisation that saves lives on South African waters – both coastal and inland, with the goal of preventing drowning through rescue operations, education and prevention initiatives.
Operating from base stations along the SA coastline, and on inland dams, rescue volunteers are on call, at all hours, every day of the year. The rescue crew receives no payment and neither does NSRI charge the people they rescue.
To support their heroic efforts, you can find out more here.
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