NSRI

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IN CASE OF EMERGENCY: PLEASE CALL 082 990 5965 There were four boats out that day and only one came back.

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) has over 900 unpaid volunteers who respond 24/7/365 to save lives on South African waters. We also teach disadvantaged children about basic water safety through our proactive educational initiative the WaterWise Academy. In 1966 at Stillbaai on the East coast, just below Mossel Bay, 17 fishermen drowned after three fishing boats sank in a terrible storm. Oom Gerhard Dreyer, now deep in his ‘80s, was the skipper of that boat and remembers how he, and his crew, threw everything that they could, including the fish that they had caught, off the ‘skuit’ … making it as light as they could. He then turned the bow into the storm and headed out to sea. In the small hours of the morning, as the storm was abating, Oom Gerhard turned back to shore, and amongst the wreckage of the other boats he found a lone survivor from the other three ‘skuits.’ It was fisherman John Aries, who was clinging to a life ring, and was so shocked that he could not talk. Following this tragic incident, Miss Pattie Price (whose own life had been saved by a RNLI lifeboat in the English Channel) began a committed letter-writing campaign to motivate for the formation of a sea rescue organisation in South Africa. Captain Bob Deacon and Ray Lant were the first volunteers to respond to this call and in 1967 the South African In shore Rescue Service (SAISRS) was born – its first rescue craft – a 4.7m inflatable boat called Snoopy was donated by the Society of Master Mariners. Soon the SAISRS became the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) and today carries on the proud tradition of volunteering started in 1967. All rescue crew of the NSRI are still unpaid volunteers. From that first inflatable boat, manned by two men who sometimes had to strap it to the roof of their vehicle and drive it to where it was needed for a rescue, the organisation now has over 900 highly trained volunteers at 31 bases around the coast and on 4 inland dams. A massive organisation, with phenomenal support from the community, Sea Rescue has an annual running cost of over R52.5m that is used to run 90 rescue craft, 29 Rescue vehicles, 10 quad bikes and 10 tractors. In 2006 Sea Rescue’s proactive educational initiative, the WaterWise Academy, was launched. The Academy has twelve Instructors spread out from Soweto, to Ceres to Nyanga, and their job is to teach children how to avoid danger, what to do in an emergency, who to call for help and gives them the confidence to initiate basic bystander CPR while they wait for an ambulance to arrive. The WaterWise Academy targets disadvantaged youth and since its inception is very proud to have taught over 550 000 children about basic water safety.

04/11/2026

A very special day for a very special Controller!
Happy Happy Birthday, Bev! We hope you enjoy some well deserved spoils and cake today! 🥳🥳
With love from all of us at Station 10

31/10/2026

Today we are wishing Justin a very happy birthday! We hope you enjoy some well deserved spoils and cake today! 🥳🥳

With love from all of us at Station 10

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

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/

16/10/2026

Please join us in wishing one of our Coastwatchers, Doug, a very happy birthday! We hope you enjoy a day filled with loads of spoils and cake! 🥳

With love from all of us at Station 10

11/10/2026

A very special day for a very special Coxswain!
Happy Happy Birthday, Sharon! We hope you enjoy some well deserved spoils and cake today! 🥳🥳
With love from all of us at Station 10

05/10/2026

Over the past few months, in the build-up to the launching of Rescue 8 ‘Spirit of Ubuntu’, crew members from Station 8 joined Station 10 crews on training days, to hone their skills in preparation for their new arrival. Yesterday we saw the culmination of all those hours, as Rescue 8 rounded Cape Point & joined Rescue 10 for a joint exercise. A proud moment for all!

01/10/2026

Today we remember Sebastian Fourie on what would have been his special day.

Although Sebastian is no longer here with us, he remains very much a part of the memories of those who knew him, served alongside him, and shared in his journey at Station 10.

On your heavenly birthday, Sebastian, we remember you with fondness and think of the family and friends who miss you every day.

Gone far too soon, but never forgotten.

Happy heavenly birthday, Sebastian. 🎂💙⚓

29/09/2026

Please join us in wishing Mia a very happy birthday! We hope you enjoy a day filled with loads of spoils and cake! 🥳

With love from all of us at Station 10

27/09/2026

Please join us in wishing Jay B a very happy birthday! We hope you enjoy a day filled with loads of spoils and cake! 🥳

With love from all of us at Station 10

22/09/2026

Please join us in wishing Damian a very happy birthday! We hope you enjoy a day filled with loads of spoils and cake! 🥳

With love from all of us at Station 10

20/09/2026

A very special day for a very special Crew!
Happy Happy Birthday, Jess! We hope you enjoy some well deserved spoils and cake today! 🥳🥳
With love from all of us at Station 10

Address

St. George's Way
Simon's Town
7975

Telephone

+27829905965

Website

http://www.nsri.org.za/

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