Two NSRI Pink Buoys were used to rescue several people within a few days of each other; these stories show how effective the Proudly South African initiative is!
South Africa (21 April 2023) – The now famous NSRI Pink Buoys were responsible for two rescues this week. The first took place in Kleinmond, Western Cape and the second in Salmon Bay, KwaZulu-Natal.
Below are the two rescue stories as shared by the NSRI.
Kleinmond
Schalk Boonzaaier, NSRI Klienmond station commander, said the rescue took place on Sunday 16 April. Renaldo Arthur was sitting at the benches behind the trees in Kleinmond Harbour when he heard shouting coming from the Harbour wall +-70m away. Investigating the commotion, he noticed three people in distress in the water. So he ran over to the Harbour wall to try and help them, injuring his knee in the process.
There were two women and one man in the water when he got to the Harbour wall. The man was trying to save one of the women but was unsuccessful and had to swim back to hold on to the steps of the Harbour wall, or risk drowning himself. The woman he tried to save made it to safety. The other woman was really struggling, her head went under the water a few times.
Renaldo then decided that he had to jump into the water to save her. A second man, Dustin, jumped in shortly after to help. Renaldo reached the drowning woman and held her up a bit but in her panic she lashed out at him, grabbing him tightly around the neck and even knocked out his teeth.
At that point Raowi, a Overstrand Municipality worker, threw the pink bouy stationed at Kleinmond Harbour towards the people in the water. Renaldo and Dustin managed to get the woman to hold onto/lay on the pink bouy, pulled the bouy by the strap towards the safety of harbour wall and got her out of the water.
The alarm was raised.
NSRI Kleinmond Crew arrived shortly after having received an alert from Warrant Officer Appolis of Kleinmond Police and NSRI Crew members administered first aid, an ambulance was dispatched.
WATCH the rescue here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAAuPz
Salmon Bay
On 19 April, 2023, at around 13h00, a Good Samaritan, using an NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy, assisted a female who appeared to be in distress in the surf line at Salmon Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, North Coast.
Using an NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy, Good Samaritan Daniel van Huysteen, a local skipper, who happens to be of Lotus Swim School and a swimming instructor at a local pre-primary school, leapt into the surf to assist the lady who appeared to get into distress after she had entered the surf where a ski-boat had just been launched to go to sea.
The lady. caught in a rip current and appearing to be struggling to stay afloat, was safely assisted back to the beach.
Thankfully, the quick actions of Good Samaritan Daniel prevented a potential tragedy after he reach the woman quickly using the aid of the NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy to bring her safely back to shore.
Once on the beach the unidentified lady required no further assistance and she departed the beach.
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) commend Good Samaritan Daniel for his swift intervention using one of our NSRI Pink Rescue Buoys.
The NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy has proven to be an effective tool for aiding in rescues.
“This is the 146th Pink Buoy rescue that we know of. All NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy in water rescues have been successful and no harm has come to any rescuer.”
Daniel’s swift reaction serves as a reminder of the importance of water safety and looking out for one another when enjoying our beaches and oceans.
“We urge the public to always swim in designated safe areas where lifeguards are present and to use the NSRI Pink Rescue Buoys when needed to aid in rescues.”
No emergency response was required.