The NSRI Safety Camera situated at Strand Beach has once again played a vital role in the rescue of a beachgoer; a kitesurfer was spotted by operators and a team was deployed to lend a helping hand.
Stand, South Africa (22 August 2023) – A camera that was installed in December 2020 along Strand Beach to aid in drowning prevention, has saved yet another life! This time the camera helped identify a kitesurfer in distress and the control room was able to send out help immediately.
In ongoing drowning prevention efforts, the camera was been positioned at Strand Beach in the Western Cape for duty controllers to monitor the water as a backup to the lifeguards watching the water from their lifeguard tower and the lifeguards patrolling the beach.
Since being installed, a 10-year-old was saved from drowning and two kayakers were assisted in strong wind and currents. The cameras and their vigilant operators have once again saved a life, this time a kitesurfer in trouble.
The NSRI Gordon’s Bay team was alerted over the weekend and rescue efforts were quickly initiated. At the same time, a good samaritan had also witnessed the distressed kitesurfer and paddled out to assist. Alan Meiklejohn, NSRI Gordons Bay station commander shares the story:
“On Saturday, 19 August, at 15h28, NSRI Gordons Bay duty crew were activated by NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) reporting a kite-boarder appearing to be in difficulty at Strand in front of Die Poort.
The kiteboarder and his sail were in the water without his sail up and it was growing increasingly evident that he was in difficulties and adrift.
The person in difficulty had been noticed by EOC controllers monitoring the NSRI Strand beach safety cameras and while rescue services responded the situation continued to be monitored on the screens of the beach safety cameras by NSRI controllers.
NSRI Gordons Bay duty crew responded to our NSRI rescue base and the NSRI rescue craft Spirit of Surfski was launched while NSRI rescue swimmers and shore crew responded to the scene.
GB Med Sec ambulance services were alerted.
A man on a paddle board had also gone towards the casualty to attempt to assist.
On arrival on the scene, in strong Northerly winds, the casualty, a local adult man, found to be lying on the foil of his kite and being assisted by the unidentified paddler, was rescued onto our sea rescue craft and his foil was recovered.
He was brought safely to shore and not injured he required no further assistance.
The paddler was commended for his assistance.
The Strand beach safety cameras continue to assist at being an early warning device aiding to bringing attention to rescue services of bathers and craft in distress along the beachfront.”
These cameras are proving to be lifesaving tools to help keep the beaches safe.
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