The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) had its hands full on New Year’s Day with multiple drownings and other emergencies.

In Port Alfred in the Eastern Cape, the rescuers noticed a man in difficulty as he swam from East Pier to West Pier at the Kowie River Mouth at around 14:00.

“He was rescued and brought to the NSRI Port Alfred rescue station where NSRI Port Alfred medics stabilised the man.”

Later in the afternoon, a 16 year-old boy and a 40-year-old man were rescued when they became caught in a rip current.

In Kenton-On-Sea, the NSRI responded to a drowning in progress at Kariega Main Beach at 17:52.

“Our NSRI rescue craft and NSRI rescue vehicle responded while an NSRI volunteer in Kenton was alerted and responded. Two young females had been washed onto the beach where bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation efforts were in progress.”

They added: NSRI Port Alfred medics, Gardmed Ambulance Service, [the Eastern Cape] government Health EMS (Emergency Medical Service), Ndlambe Fire and Rescue Service and SA Police Service were in attendance as well as Umhlanga and Durban lifeguards who are on holiday [in] Kenton also assisted on the scene where extensive CPR efforts were under way on both females.

While on the scene, the NSRI noticed a third girl was having difficulty in the surf.

NSRI Port Alfred rescue swimmers recovered the girl from the water.

“After all efforts to resuscitate the three females, aged between 10 and 14, were exhausted, sadly, they were declared deceased.”

In the same area, a search is being conducted for a 9-year-old boy who went missing in the surf on New Year’s Day.

In Gordon’s Bay in the Western Cape, the NRSI responded to multiple emergencies on Sunday.

At around 10:00, the institute assisted City of Cape Town lifeguards after a bystander recovered a 12-year-old girl from the water in Cape Sands.

NRSI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said: She received medical treatment at the Strand Lifesaving Club before being released.

At 12:30 the unit at Gordon’s Bay assisted “a young lady” who had difficulty breathing at Strand Beach.

Then, at 15:24, two people were rescued after they became caught in a rip current in front of Leonahof, Strand Beach. They were treated and released.

“NSRI Gordon’s Bay then rescued another casualty, age 15, at the same area, who was caught in a rip current. He was recovered unresponsive from the water and brought to the Strand Lifesaving Club before being transported to hospital in a serious condition,” Lambinon said.

In Plettenberg Bay, the NSRI responded to reports of a drowning in progress in the Piesang River.

Lambinon said:An NSRI Plettenberg Bay rescue swimmer recovered an adult male from the water where cardiopulmonary resuscitation efforts were commenced by NSRI Plettenberg Bay medics.

“Bitou municipal lifeguards, Medlife ambulance services, Plettenberg Bay First Responders, the Bitou Fire and Rescue Service and the SA Police Service were in attendance. After all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted, sadly, he was declared deceased.”

At 12:25, the NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew headed to Glentana where three lifeguards rescued an adult man who had become caught in rip currents.

“The man was taken into the care of paramedics. The three Mossel Bay municipal lifeguards are commended for saving the man’s life.”

Just after 17:00, the NSRI also responded to a drowning in progress at the Great Brak River Mouth at the lagoon. The child died after resuscitation efforts were exhausted.

News24