NSRI sees to five rescues

By Rhodé Marshall
10 March 2008

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) says it has had a busy weekend as they had to see to five incidents at sea in and around Cape Town.

Early Saturday morning they were called in to search for a father and son from Hout Bay who was out fishing but failed to return.

“During the search the father and son were found safe on the shore and no further assistance was required,” says NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon.

In another incident at Danger Beach close to Kalk Bay, the body of Roger Banfield who was missing and believed to have drowned – was found on Sunrise Beach by bathers.

“On Saturday afternoon we responded to Moses Beach, next to Clifton First Beach, following reports of a drowning in progress. Woodstock friends, Kurt Bowers and Ryan Swain got into difficulty in the surf and Clifton lifeguard Daniel Cantor assisted them out of the surf,” says Lambinon.

He says Bowers was treated for near drowning symptoms on the scene and was transported to hospital in a stable condition and Swain did not require any medical assistance.


The forth rescue which the NSRI had to undertake was on Sunday morning when it was reported that a body was floating in Swartklip, near Strandfontein by local boaters. Lambinon says the body of an unidentified man was recovered and handed to the police who are investigating the incident.

“On Sunday afternoon the Netcare 911 surf rescue helicopter and NSRI Gordons Bay were dispatched to Kogel Bay following reports of a drowning in progress. On arrival, lifeguards were found on the beach conducting Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) efforts on a male,” explains Lambinon.

He adds that after extensive CPR efforts the man who is believed to be in his forties was declared dead on the scene. It has not been established who the man is or where he is from.