NSRI

14/10/2026

Answer your phone… it could be us! 📞🎉

This Friday, 16 October, two lucky supporters will get a call they’ll never forget! We'll be announcing the winners of:

🚗 A brand-new Suzuki Jimny 5-door in our second Cars4Good draw.
💰 R150,000 in our second Monthly Giving Grand Prize draw.

Two incredible prizes. Two very happy winners. Could you be one of them? 🤞

Thank you to everyone who has entered. Every Cars4Good and Monthly Giving entry helps us continue building a water-safe nation.

Good luck!

14/10/2026

14/10/2026

Five paddlers who became lost in dense fog off the Atlantic Seaboard on Tuesday, 13 October, are safe after a SafeTRX emergency alert from one of their group led NSRI crews to them 1.3 nautical miles off Clifton.

https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/10/5-paddlers-lost-in-dense-fog-safely-rescued-off-clifton/

14/10/2026

When Graham Howes’ family experienced the devastating loss of someone they loved, the NSRI’s efforts to find him left a lasting impression.

Now, that connection is helping create something that will carry Graham’s name forward.

Spirit of Graham Howes, a Gemini 5.5-metre rescue RIB being built for Station 16 Strandfontein, is expected to join the NSRI fleet later this year.

For a family whose lives were so closely connected to the ocean, it is a meaningful way to honour Graham’s memory: a rescue craft that will head out onto the water with a purpose, helping bring others safely home.

Read Graham’s story and find out more about the vessel being built in his honour: https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/09/in-memory-of-graham-howes-new-rescue-vessel-to-carry-his-legacy/

13/10/2026

https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/10/atlantic-seaboard-tuesday-13-october-5-paddlers-lost-in-dense-fog-have-been-safely-rescued/

13/10/2026

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

13/10/2026

⚓🔥 EARNED. NOT GIVEN. | CLASS III COXSWAIN

The surf doesn’t care how hard you’ve trained. It doesn’t give second chances. And it certainly doesn’t hand out qualifications.

It takes grit, determination, countless hours on the water and the ability to make split-second decisions when it matters most.

Kyle has stepped up, put in the work and proven he has what it takes!

We are incredibly proud to announce that Kyle Reeves has officially qualified as a NSRI CLASS III SURF RESCUE COXSWAIN! 🌊🚤

This qualification isn’t just about driving a rescue vessel through the surf. It’s about leadership, responsibility, sound judgement and having the lives of your crew in your hands.

The hours were long. The challenges were real. The qualification was earned.

Congratulations, Kyle! Your hard work and commitment have paid off. The crew of NSRI Station 18 – Melkbosstrand are incredibly proud of you!

13/10/2026

NSRI Richards Bay volunteer crew assisted two foreign sailing yachts over Sunday and Monday. A British couple needed help getting their yacht across a shallow channel to the Zululand Yacht Club in strong winds, and a New Zealand couple were towed to safe moorings after their yacht’s motor failed in the harbour channel. Both crews and their yachts reached safety without incident.

12/10/2026

Twenty-four people. Ten countries. One shared goal: preventing drowning.

In September, lifesaving leaders from around the world came together at NSRI headquarters in Cape Town for the RNLI’s Leaders in Lifesaving course, co-hosted with the NSRI for the first time.

The week brought together organisations facing different challenges, but many of the same questions: how can we strengthen leadership, share knowledge and find better ways to prevent drowning?

Because the work to save lives does not stop at borders.

Read more about the course and the people working together to make our waters safer:
https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/09/ten-countries-one-goal-preventing-drowning/

11/10/2026

🚙 A BIG THANK YOU TO MITSUBISHI MOTORS! 🙌

A huge thank you to Mitsubishi Motors for their generous sponsorship and contribution towards our NSRI Station 18 4x4 Day!

Your continued support and commitment to our station play an important role in making events like these a success.

We truly appreciate your ongoing partnership and willingness to support our fundraising initiatives, helping us continue doing what we do best – Saving Lives, Changing Lives. ❤️⚓

11/10/2026

NSRI Kleinmond duty crew were activated following eyewitness reports of a drowning in progress at Kleinmond Main Beach Lagoon.
https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/10/nsri-kleinmond-responds-to-child-drowning-at-kleinmond-lagoon/

09/10/2026

Eight years ago, *Alick Rennie* became the first of a new generation of Offshore Rescue Craft to join the NSRI fleet.

Today, eight ORCs have been built, with the programme now complete.

The journey represents a significant investment in the future of maritime rescue, giving NSRI crews vessels designed to travel further offshore, operate in challenging conditions, and support increasingly demanding rescue operations.

From the first vessel to the last, the programme has built the capability needed to serve South Africa’s waters for decades to come.

Read the full story behind the fleet renewal programme: https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/09/looking-back-at-the-fleet-renewal-programme-that-began-with-alick-rennie/

09/10/2026

Two local men are safe and unhurt after NSRI St Lucia crew brought them ashore from a fishing ski-boat that suffered steering failure in the surf zone off Ingwe Beach on Monday, 5 October.

06/10/2026

⚓ REGION 7 | JOINT TRAINING WEEKEND

A weekend of training, teamwork and shared experience across Region 7! 🌊🚑

Crews from Stations 4, 18, 24, 34, 43 and 44 came together for a joint training weekend, putting their skills to the test through a combination of land- and sea-based exercises, together with medical training supported by West Coast Medical Rescue.

Joint exercises like these allow our crews to learn from one another, strengthen inter-station teamwork and prepare for situations where multiple rescue resources need to work together.

A huge thank you to Station 4 for hosting us and to everyone who contributed to making the weekend possible.

Different stations. One team. One purpose.⚓💙

01/10/2026

🚙 4X4 DAY | 5 SEPTEMBER 2026 🚙

Sand, dunes, 4x4s and an incredible day of support for NSRI Station 18 Melkbosstrand! ⚓

A huge thank you to Koeberg Nature Reserve for opening their gates and allowing us to experience this incredible part of the West Coast, and to the Land Cruiser Club for once again sharing their time, knowledge and experience to help make the day possible.

To all of our sponsors — thank you for getting behind our station and supporting the event. Your generosity and contributions played a huge part in making the day the success that it was.

And, of course, to every participant who joined us — thank you for showing up, getting stuck into the dunes and supporting our volunteer rescue crew!

Events like these simply aren’t possible without the people and organisations who support us.

🚙💨 From all of us at Station 18 — thank you for an unforgettable 4x4 Day!

26/09/2026

⚓ CLASS IV PROGRAMME | FULL MOCK ASSESSMENT

Today our trainee coxswains were put through their paces with a full mock assessment designed to mirror the demands of their upcoming assessments.

From surf work and one-on-one theory testing to a written exam, the day was all about identifying where they stand, sharpening their skills and preparing for assessment day. 🌊💪

A big thank you to the trainee coxswains from Stations 18, 24 and 34 for the time and effort put into preparing for the day, and to the coxswains and crew of Station 18 for putting it all together and making it happen.

24/09/2026

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is a registered non-profit organisation that is committed to drowning prevention and focused on saving lives, changing lives and creating futures for those threatened by drowning in South Africa.

21/09/2026

🚙 READY ON LAND. READY AT SEA. 🚜

Training doesn’t start at the water’s edge.

Our crew hit the land to build the skills and fitness needed to get our crew and rescue craft safely where they need to be.

🏖️ 4x4 soft-sand driving skills
🚜 Tractor driving
⚠️ Precaution skills training
🏃 Land-based fitness

From navigating soft sand to safely launching our rescue craft, every skill counts when the call comes.

Train hard. Stay ready. Respond.

21/09/2026

🌊 TRAIN. PREPARE. RESPOND. 🚤

Our crew took to the water for a full-on sea training session, putting essential rescue skills into practice.

🔥 Fire emergency procedures
🚨 Man Overboard (MOB)
⚓ Grounding procedures
🌊 Taking on water
🛞 Emergency steering
🛟 Conscious & unconscious patient recoveries
💪 Sea-going fitness
🚤 Helm time for our developing trainees

Every drill builds confidence, competence and teamwork — so when the real call comes, we’re ready.

16/09/2026

On the 12th September, our Station 18 crew shared their first aid knowledge with students from Elkanah High School as part of their Medical Skills Workshop. 🚑

The students got hands-on with patient assessments, bleeding control and other basic emergency skills.

A great morning of learning, sharing skills and building future lifesavers! 🌊