NSRI

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.** ❤️🛟

22/10/2026

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

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/

21/10/2026

🗳️ Our Witbank Dam crew needs your vote!

Volunteer crew at NSRI Station 35 Witbank Dam have been named one of 10 finalists for the People’s Choice Award at the International Maritime Rescue Federation Awards 2026. They are the only South African finalists this year.

The nomination recognises a demanding night rescue. The crew travelled 140 km to reach four people trapped at the edge of the 40-metre Grootdraai Dam spillway. In the dark, in strong winds and fast-flowing water, they adapted as conditions changed and brought all four people to safety.

They now stand alongside nominees from seven countries, including the RNLI, the Swedish Sea Rescue Society, Coastguard New Zealand, Marine Rescue NSW and China’s Beihai No.1 Rescue Flying Team.

This award isn’t decided by judges. It’s decided by you. 💙

👉 Vote here (it takes less than 20 seconds): surveymonkey.com/r/2026PCAward

Voting closes at midnight on 30 October 2026, and the winner will be announced on 25 November at the IMRF Conference in Saint-Malo, France.

Please vote, share this post and help us show the world what our volunteers do.

20/10/2026

A 48-year-old man from Belgium is expected to be discharged from hospital today after a non-fatal drowning incident at a remote beach between Brenton-on-Sea and Buffalo Bay on Monday afternoon. The man, on a cycling holiday with his family, is believed to have been caught in rip currents while swimming.

A 48-year-old man from Belgium is expected to be discharged from hospital today after a non-fatal drowning incident at a remote beach between…

20/10/2026

On Saturday morning, NSRI Port Nolloth volunteers on a routine training exercise responded when a local mining vessel raised concern for three of her crew who had gone ashore on their RHIB (rigid hull inflatable boat) and had not been heard from. All three were found safe in the harbour.
https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/10/mining-vessel-crew-assisted-after-rhib-loses-motor-power/

20/10/2026

55 years of service. Two remarkable NSRI journeys.

In 1971, Pat van Eyssen and Ian Hamilton began their journeys with the NSRI.

Pat was 19 when he joined after being invited to a training session. Ian helped establish what would become Station 15 Mossel Bay, despite having little experience with boats or the sea.

Five and a half decades later, both have seen the NSRI grow from an organisation working with limited resources into a world leader in search and rescue.

Along the way, there have been difficult rescues, lives saved and countless moments that have stayed with them. But for both Pat and Ian, it has always come back to the people and the difference volunteers can make.

55 years on, their commitment remains an extraordinary example of what it means to volunteer.

Read their stories and discover just how far the NSRI has come: https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/09/pat-van-eyssen-and-ian-hamilton-celebrate-55-years-of-service/

19/10/2026

NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew were activated following a request for medical assistance from a group of hikers reporting that a female in their group was suffering an injury and unable to continue on the walk.
https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/10/injured-hiker-rescued-from-robberg-nature-reserve-by-nsri-plettenberg-bay/

19/10/2026

https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/10/nsri-richards-bay-monday-19-october-a-man-is-missing/

NSRI – Richards Bay – Monday, 19 October. A man is missing:


Norman Rautenbach, NSRI Richards Bay station commander, said:

At 17h33, Sunday, 18 October, NSRI Richards Bay duty crew were activated following eyewitness reports of a drowning in progress at Main Beach, Alkanstrand, Richards Bay.

Reports indicated 2 persons appearing to be in distress in the surf zone, caught in rip currents.

NSRI rescue swimmers, our NSRI rescue vehicle, the SA Police Service, Police Search and Rescue, uMhlathuze Fire and Rescue Services and Mounties EMS (Emergency Medical Services) responded.

While responding further eyewitness emergency calls indicated that one man had managed to reach the shore and one man had gone missing in the surf zone.

On arrival on the scene, it was confirmed that one man, age 26, was safely ashore and his friend, age 27, had gone missing after last being seen in distress appearing to be caught in rip currents in the surf zone.

An extensive search has revealed no signs of the missing man.

Police have opened an investigation.

It appears that while swimming the 26 year old may have been caught in rip currents when his friend reportedly tried to assist him but he was then caught in the rip currents.

Paramedics attended to the 26 year old and after being medically assessed he required no further medical care.

Police Search and Rescue are continuing in ongoing search efforts for the missing man.

Thoughts and care are with the family and friends of the missing man in this difficult time.

NSRI – STATION 19, Richards Bay.NSRI – Richards Bay – Monday, 19 October. A man is missing: Norman Rautenbach, NSRI Richards Bay station commander,…

19/10/2026

In swells of up to 5 metres, NSRI Table Bay crew hoisted a seriously injured seafarer from a 229-metre cargo ship 12 nautical miles offshore on Saturday, 17 October, bringing him safely back to land and into the care of paramedics.

NSRI Table Bay carried out a maritime medical evacuation of a seriously injured 30-year-old Filipino seafarer from a 229-metre cargo ship, 12 nautical…

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

20/05/2026

🚨Public Safety Warning🚨