NSRI

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…

14/10/2026

THE NEXT STEP 🌊👏

A proud moment at Station 5 last night as our cadets stood before the committee and were officially promoted to trainees!

It’s another milestone on the journey to becoming full crew members, built on commitment, learning and plenty of hard work.

Congratulations to our newly promoted trainees — the journey continues! 🚤🌊

11/10/2026

SURVEY SAYS… CREW FEUD CHAMPIONS! 🏆

A little friendly competition, a few questionable answers, some serious thinking, and plenty of laughs at Station 5’s Crew Feud Quiz Night.

Two teams went head-to-head, but only one could walk away with the ultimate prize: bragging rights until further notice. 😏

Congratulations to our winning team! You’ve earned the glory, the certificate, and the unquestionable right to remind everyone about this victory at every available opportunity.

To the rest of the crew… there’s always next time.

Until the next showdown, champions.

24/09/2026

Happy Heritage Day from NSRI Station 5! 🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦

16/09/2026

HUET TRAINING — ASR 🚁🌊

Preparation for any major search and rescue exercise starts long before the teams arrive on the day.

For our Station 5 Air Sea Rescue (ASR) team, that preparation includes Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET), working alongside Durban Metro Police Search and Rescue.

HUET is designed to prepare rescue personnel for escaping from a helicopter that has ditched or crashed into the water.

The training covers everything from impact preparation and the correct brace position, to underwater escape, emergency exits, controlled breathing and post-escape survival.

A major focus is learning to manage panic and disorientation while underwater and to rely on a rehearsed sequence:

Brace. Stay calm. Orientate. Release. Exit. Surface. Survive.

For an ASR team operating alongside helicopters, these are important skills to have firmly in place. A ditching can leave occupants submerged, inverted, disorientated and without normal visual references.

The training uses realistic ditching scenarios to put those skills under pressure, building familiarity with the equipment, procedures and physical demands of an underwater escape.

It’s practical, uncomfortable and incredibly valuable training — the kind that builds confidence through repetition and prepares crews for the unexpected.

A big thank you to Durban Metro Police Search and Rescue for training alongside our ASR team and helping us strengthen the skills required for aviation and maritime rescue operations.

15/09/2026

Sunday morning. Boats in the water, crew and trainees on deck and the ocean looking ready for another day of training. 🌊

Station 5 linked up with our sister station, Station 41, for a day of joint training — but first, there was an important appointment to keep.

We joined the sail past for the Commodore of the Point Yacht Club, lining up alongside the fleet to give the Commodore a proper Station 5 welcome.

Three cheers for the Commodore! ⚓️🥂

Then it was back to business.

We set up a tow between the boats and got the crew and trainees into the water. The exercise was to Move along the tow rope between the two vessels, then swim clear of the line and make your way to the boat.

Good communication, good situational awareness and knowing how to work around the equipment all come into play.

Another Sunday spent getting out on the water, putting the crew and trainees through their paces and working alongside our sister station — giving crews the opportunity to train together and experience different conditions, different environments and different ways of working.

Station 5 x Station 41. Different conditions. Shared knowledge. One team on the water. 🌊⚓️