NSRI

22/10/2026

Please Vote! Congratulations Witbank crew.

🗳️ 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.

22/10/2026

Busy time around the country assisting those in need on our waters.

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/

20/10/2026

We had the opportunity to support the 'ILoveBoobies' breast cancer awareness event on the 10th of October by being part of their water safety team.
Super awesome working alongside our water rescue colleagues from Coastal Water Rescue.
What a worthwhile event seeing the support being given for those who have had breast cancer and those supporting the awareness of early detection.

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…

15/10/2026

3 weeks to go till the NSRI Station 6 Golf Day in association with Mitsubishi Motors at Maritime.

Your business can be involved and help us to save lives on SA waters. Donate a prize or sponsor a hole.

⛳️

12/10/2026

12/10/2026

Shout out to Red Alert for putting themselves in our space!
They have made life easier for us by having the Archie & Alta Rabie Rescue Base cleaned once a week by their cleaning team.
This is a big help and a great pleasure knowing someone has our back when we out doing what we do and don't get the time to get to the nitty-gritty of keeping our Rescue Base ship-shape.💙

05/10/2026

It was a fun and productive training weekend!
Training weekends are always packed with learning, both in theory and through hands-on practical experience. Being part of Sea Rescue means constantly learning, developing new skills, and maintaining the skills we have to ensure we're ready for whatever comes our way.

This weekend, we were excited to welcome several new trainees, along with visitors to the station who came to learn more about what we do and how they can get involved.

Saturday kicked off with some general maintenance around the Archie & Alta Rabie rescue base, followed by an opportunity to learn about and get hands-on experience with our two different types of salvage pumps and how they operate. These are useful when we need to fight a fire or pump water out of the inside of a vessel.

Sunday, we headed out early to sea in foggy conditions aboard our Orc 'Bay Guardian' and RIB 'R6A' to test our radio communications and put our skills into practice. The session included navigation, vessel-to-vessel communication, helming, and practicing setting up a tow.

After a morning out at sea, we returned to wash our vessels, take pride in our equipment, tidy up the base, and make sure everything was ready for the next call-out.

Another weekend filled with learning, teamwork, and growing together. 🚤💪

01/10/2026

Today, the flag at the Volunteer Support Centre (Cape Town) is flying at half-mast as a mark of respect for Brian Hustler, whose memorial service takes place today in Gqeberha. Brian passed away on 25 September after a lifetime of extraordinary service to the NSRI. A founding member of Station 6 in Gqeberha, he went on to serve as an NSRI Director and Honorary Life Governor, dedicating nearly 60 years to our organisation.

Brian was part of the generation of volunteers who helped build the foundations of the NSRI we know today. He remained deeply interested in the organisation throughout his life and was a wonderful keeper of its history, its people and its stories. As we remember Brian today, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and his Station 6 family, and honour a remarkable legacy of service to saving lives on South African waters.

From all at Station 6, we wish you fair winds, following seas and calm waters ahead.

01/10/2026

Short and sweet report from around the country.

28/09/2026

HONOURING FOUNDING MEMBER OF STATION 6

NSRI Station 6 is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Brian Hustler on Friday, 25 September 2026.

Brian was an NSRI Director, Honorary Life Governor, and a founding member of Station 6 in Port Elizabeth, dedicating nearly 60 years of extraordinary service to NSRI. His early efforts helped lay the foundational groundwork for everything our station is today.

A man of remarkable warmth and memory, he held a vast bank of NSRI stories, recounting volunteers, milestones, and daring rescues with unmatched accuracy and enthusiasm. Even in his later years, he visited whenever possible and kept a keen interest in the station's work.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.
Brian's legacy will continue to live on in every lifesaving mission performed by the station.