NSRI

03/11/2026

Mark McLagan, NSRI Hermanus coxswain, said: At 07h00, Saturday, 31 October, NSRI Hermanus duty crew were activated following reports from a local Core Tactical security officer of a man appearing to be adrift in the water at his fishing sea-kayak offshore of Franskraal, near to Gansbaai.

https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/11/nsri-gansbaai-saturday-31-october-a-man-assisted-following-his-sea-kayak-capsizing/

03/11/2026

Saturday = Skill Day! 🪢

This weekend, our trainee crew spent some valuable hands-on time working through any outstanding skills and making sure everyone is on track ahead of the upcoming assessment day.

Becoming an NSRI crew member involves working through a comprehensive training syllabus, covering everything from essential knowledge to the practical skills needed out on the water. And it doesn't all happen at once!

Each practical skill is trained, practised and assessed separately to ensure trainees develop the confidence, consistency and competence needed to perform when it counts.

Saturday was an opportunity to revisit skills, ask questions, iron out any uncertainties and get some extra practice under the guidance of an experienced crew member. Because there's always something to learn, something to improve and another opportunity to get better.

Lots of questions, lots of learning, plenty of teamwork and one shared goal: getting our trainees one step closer to becoming capable, confident and rescue-ready crew members.

30/10/2026

🪢 Wednesday’s training at the NSRI was all about tying things together (literally!).

Our crew rotated between stations, practising rope tying, working to get those knot-tying times down, and sharpening our aim with throw bags and heaving lines. For some of our trainees, it was their first experience with knots — but certainly not the last, as evidenced by the tying times from our experienced crew!

There were plenty of laughs as everyone worked on getting their technique shipshape, along with helpful advice from our coxswains. We’re always looking for ways to improve our skills, and Wednesday’s session really helped tie things together 😉

30/10/2026

Congratulations to Charles Booysen, our September Photo of the Month winner, for this cracking photograph of a humpback whale breaching in False Bay.

Charles wins a R250 voucher for the NSRI online shop.

Think you have a photo that captures the NSRI, our volunteers, supporters or the places where we operate? Submit your photo for a chance to be featured and win next month’s prize.

Read the competition terms and find out how to enter: https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/09/photo-of-the-month-september-2026/

28/10/2026

Earlier this year, 196 young people began a journey to become stronger water-safety leaders in their communities.

Now, four YeboScouters have taken another step forward, completing an intensive five-day lifeguard readiness programme with the NSRI.

Over five days, they worked through CPR, shallow-water rescues, spinal management and patient recovery, while making significant progress in the water.

But becoming a lifeguard is about more than being a strong swimmer. It is about prevention, awareness, teamwork and knowing how to respond when something goes wrong.

For these four young people, the journey isn't over yet. They will continue training as they work towards their qualifying assessments.

Saving lives, changing lives and creating futures.

Read the full story of their journey here: https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/09/yeboscouters-take-on-lifeguard-training/

27/10/2026

A Week of Life-Saving Missions: Every week, our volunteer rescue crews respond to emergencies across South Africa, from our coastlines to inland waters.
Here’s a look at some of the rescues, images, and moments from the past week that reflect their courage, skill, and unwavering commitment to saving lives. To read more incredible stories from the world of the NSRI, visit our news page here: https://www.nsri.org.za/news-stories

26/10/2026

🌊🚨 **Saturday Training at NSRI Station 17 – Hermanus** 🚨🌊

Saturday’s training was all about search and rescue operations!** 💪🌊

Our crew spent valuable time sharpening their skills, practising in search and rescue techniques and preparing for the challenges we may face at sea. Regular training is essential to ensure our volunteers are ready to respond when the call for help comes in.

A big thank you to all our dedicated volunteers for giving up their time to train, learn and keep our community safe. 🙌

**Train together. Respond together. Save lives together.** ❤️🛟

26/10/2026

NSRI – STATION 3, Table Bay. STATION 18, Melkbosstrand. STATION 1, VSC (Volunteer Support Centre) training department.

NSRI – Table Bay – Monday, 26 October. A commercial charter vessel assisted:


Davide Del Fante, NSRI Table Bay coxswain, said:

At 18h59, Saturday, 24 October, NSRI Table Bay duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from a local commercial charter vessel, on a sunset cruise, reporting to be taking on water, offshore of Green Point, with 37 passengers, including 7 crew.

Our duty crew responded to our NSRI Table Bay station 3 rescue base while shore controllers responded to get visuals from the shore side.

NSRI Melkbosstrand were placed on alert.

NSRI VSC (Volunteer Support Centre) training department, conducting routine training, dispatched the NSRI rescue craft Colorpress Rescuer.

NSRI Table Bay duty crew launched the NSRI rescue craft DHL Deliverer.

At least 6 local fellow commercial charter boats, in the area at the time, were on hand at the casualty vessel ready to assist if required.

TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Port of Table Bay Port Control put tug vessels on alert to assist if necessary.

On NSRI rescue craft arriving on the scene we found the casualty vessel underway, under her own power, and NSRI rescue craft escorted the vessel to her moorings at the V&A marina in the Port of Table Bay.

Once the casualty vessel was safely moored all passengers disembarked safely without incident and they required no assistance.

NSRI crew joined the casualty vessel crew onboard where 2 NSRI water extrication pumps were deployed and water ingress, in the engine room, was extracted.

After all water was extricated the water inflow was stemmed and no further assistance was required.

The operation was completed at 20h00.
https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/10/commercial-sunset-cruise-vessel-escorted-safely-to-marina-after-taking-on-water/

26/10/2026

https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/10/nsri-ganzekraal-monday-26-october-a-father-and-his-son-trapped-on-rocks-offshore-cut-off-from-mainland-by-the-spring-high-tide/

NSRI – Ganzekraal – Monday, 26 October. A father and his son trapped on rocks offshore, cut off from mainland by the Spring high tide:


Junre Marais, NSRI Yzerfontein station commander, said:

At 14h30, Saturday, 24 October, NSRI Yzerfontein duty crew were activated following call to NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) from family reporting that a father and his son were on rocks, offshore at Ganzekraal, and cut off from mainland by the Spring high tide.

The father, age 50, and his son, age 9, from Cape Town, had been fishing from rocks that were easily accessible during the Spring low tide but at the Spring high tide they were cut off from being able to get back to mainland.

Our duty crew responded to our NSRI Yzerfontein station 34 rescue base and we dispatched our rescue vehicle, towing our rescue craft JetRIB Janine.

On arrival Ganzekraal we launched our rescue craft Janine and reached the casualties at a rocky outcrop offshore.

An NSRI rescue swimmer was deployed onto the rocks where the father was assisted onto the rescue craft, accompanied by their fishing gear, and he was brought to shore safely.

The NSRI craft returned to the rocks and without incident the son and our rescue swimmer were brought to shore onboard our rescue craft.

Once safely ashore they required no further assistance.

Our rescue craft was recovered at 16h00 and the operation was completed at 17h00.

25/10/2026

https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/10/nsri-ballito-sunday-25-october-a-man-is-missing/

A man believed to be 35 remains missing after being caught in rip currents near the Salmon Bay launch site, Ballito. Search efforts by NSRI and partner…

25/10/2026

https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/10/nsri-wilderness-man-dies-after-drowning-accident-at-leentjiesklip-beach/

A local man has died following a drowning accident at Leentjiesklip Beach, Wilderness, after two fathers went into the water to help their teenage sons…

22/10/2026

After nearly two decades in the NSRI fleet, the *Spirit of Vodacom* has a new home.

Following a four-month refurbishment in Cape Town, the vessel has made the journey to Station 15 Mossel Bay, where she will now serve as Rescue 15.

With greater range and endurance, her arrival strengthens the station’s ability to respond to incidents along the coastline and further offshore.

After 19 years of answering the call, this is the beginning of her next chapter.

Read the full story of Rescue 15’s journey to Mossel Bay: https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/09/a-new-chapter-for-the-spirit-of-vodacom-rescue-vessel/

21/10/2026

At 14h29, Monday, 19 October, NSRI Richards Bay duty crew were placed on alert to prepare for a maritime medical evacuation operation for 3 male seafarers injured on board a 292-meter bulk carrier motor vessel at anchorage offshore of Richards Bay.
https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/10/nsri-richards-bay-wednesday-21-october-a-maritime-medical-evacuation-operation-of-2-injured-seafarers/

09/10/2026

🗺️ When last did you look at a chart?

For our volunteer NSRI crew, reading charts, plotting courses and brushing up on navigation skills is all in a day’s work! 🧭🌊

Regular navigation training means that when the call comes, our crew know how to find their way to those who need them.

28/09/2026

🚨 Development Weekend at NSRI Station 17 🚨

This past weekend, NSRI Station 17 hosted a development weekend for some of our dedicated training crew.

The weekend included a variety of challenging assessments, including rescue scenarios, medical simulations, practical training, and the necessary written tests as our crew work towards achieving full-status rescuer qualification.

It was a weekend of hard work, teamwork, learning and pushing personal limits — all with one goal in mind: being better prepared to help those in need.

👏 Well done to everyone who took part! Your commitment, effort and dedication are truly appreciated.

A big thank you to everyone who assisted with the training and assessments and helped make the weekend a success.

Train hard. Stay ready. Save lives. 🌊🚑🛟

25/09/2026

A huge thank you to Padel Stanford and Stanford Security Services for each sponsoring an NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy 🩷 🛟

These buoys are strategically placed at beaches, coastal paths and other spots along our coastline for members of the public in an emergency.

They’re highly visible and potentially lifesaving equipment. When someone is in trouble in the water, having a flotation device within reach can make a crucial difference while help is on the way.

There are still many locations where we’d love to see more Pink Buoys — and that’s where community sponsorship makes a real difference.

Want to help sponsor a Pink Rescue Buoy? Get in touch with your nearest NSRI station.

11/09/2026

Big news at Station 17!

A huge congratulations to James, Johann and Julia on achieving their latest qualifications — a true reflection of their dedication, hard work and commitment to good leadership on and off the water.

⚓ James — Class 1 Coxswain
⚓ Johann — Class 3 Coxswain
⚓ Julia — Class 4 Coxswain

We’re incredibly proud to see our crew continuing to grow their skills and step up as leaders within the NSRI.

Here’s to many safe and successful missions ahead! 💙

22/06/2026

A big thank you to everyone who joined NSRI Station 17 Hermanus for our Winter Plunge on 21 June 2026.

Thank you for showing up, taking the plunge, and supporting the event. Your enthusiasm and support help us continue our mission of saving lives at sea.

We hope to see you all again at the next Winter Plunge.

Here’s to saving lives at sea.

17/06/2026

WINTER SOLSTICE PLUNGE 2026

Date: 21 June 2026
Time: 10:00 AM
Venue: NSRI Station 17, New Harbour, Hermanus

Join NSRI Station 17 this Winter Solstice and challenge yourself to a cold-water plunge while supporting the life-saving work of the NSRI.

Whether you take the plunge on your own or gather friends, family, or colleagues to join you, every contribution helps support our volunteer rescue crews who stand ready to save lives 24 hours a day, 365 days a year along South Africa’s coastline.

Take the plunge. Make a difference. Save lives.

NSRI Station 17 – Hermanus