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

Reminder...

🚨 REMINDER – OPEN DAY! 🚨

We hope to see you there!

Thinking about joining the NSRI? Come along to our Open Day and find out more about what we do, meet the team, and see how you can get involved.

And remember – we don’t only need Sea Crew!

Our Shore Crew are just as important and play a vital role in supporting our station and operations.

Whether you’re interested in being out on the water or helping behind the scenes, there’s a place for you in the NSRI family.

Come and have a chat with us – you might just discover that volunteering with the NSRI is exactly what you’ve been looking for.

Hope to see you there!

02/10/2026

🚨 REMINDER – OPEN DAY! 🚨

We hope to see you there!

Thinking about joining the NSRI? Come along to our Open Day and find out more about what we do, meet the team, and see how you can get involved.

And remember – we don’t only need Sea Crew!

Our Shore Crew are just as important and play a vital role in supporting our station and operations.

Whether you’re interested in being out on the water or helping behind the scenes, there’s a place for you in the NSRI family.

Come and have a chat with us – you might just discover that volunteering with the NSRI is exactly what you’ve been looking for.

Hope to see you there!

24/09/2026

🇿🇦 Happy Heritage Day from NSRI Station 20!

Today we celebrate the incredible diversity, cultures, traditions and people that make South Africa who we are.

For us at NSRI, heritage is also about community, compassion and serving one another. It is about people from different backgrounds coming together with one purpose — to help those in need and to keep our communities safe.

We are proud to be part of a South African family where ordinary people give their time, skills and hearts to make a difference. From our crews on the water to our shore crew supporting behind the scenes, every volunteer plays an important part.

Today, we celebrate our people, our coastline, our communities and the spirit of Ubuntu that brings us together.

From all of us at NSRI Station 20 Shelly Beach, we wish our volunteers, supporters, families and communities a very happy Heritage Day!

Proudly South African. Proudly NSRI. 🇿🇦❤️

24/09/2026

There’s something completely different about getting into the ocean when it’s pitch dark — no shoreline lights, no daylight, just the sound and movement of the sea around you.

As part of our night training, some of our crew got into the water to practise Help & Huddle — an essential survival technique used when people are in the water and need to stay together, conserve heat and support one another.

It’s one thing to learn the technique on land or during the day… but doing it in the ocean at night puts everything into perspective.

You quickly realise how important communication, trust, teamwork and staying calm are.

Training like this pushes us outside our comfort zones and helps prepare us for the real situations where these skills may be needed.

A huge well done to the crew who got into that dark, cold water and gave it their all!

Train in the conditions. Trust your crew. Be ready when it matters.

24/09/2026

With today being a public holiday, the crews from NSRI Station 20 Shelly Beach and Station 32 got together for some valuable night training — finishing up around 01h00 in the morning!

Training at night brings a whole different set of challenges, and it’s so important for our crews to be comfortable, confident and prepared when called out in the early hours.

The evening covered:

🔹 Rafting
🔹 COLREGS – lights & awareness
🔹 Towing
🔹 Close-quarter manoeuvring
🔹 Help & Huddle
🔹 MOB drills
🔹 Radio communications
🔹 Topography

It was a fantastic opportunity to train together, share knowledge and strengthen the teamwork between our stations.

A huge thank you to everyone who gave up their evening, stayed out late and put in the time to keep developing their skills. Training like this is what helps prepare us for the moments when it really matters.

Proud to be part of such an incredible organisation and even prouder of the dedication shown by our volunteers.

Train together. Learn together. Respond together.

20/09/2026

Proud to be part of such a wonderful non-profit organization!!!!!

17/09/2026

One of my favourite NSRI moments was going out on the vessel, jumping into the water, and doing some huddle and HELP training.

The boat then moved just far enough away for the crew to still see us, allowing us to experience what it feels like to be in the middle of the ocean, drifting.

It was an incredible experience that gave me a whole new appreciation for the importance of staying together, remaining calm, and knowing what to do when you find yourself in the water.

NSRI

13/09/2026

It can help fund rescue vessels, equipment, volunteer training and drowning-prevention programmes.