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27 October 2023
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83 people stranded ferried to safety at the Geelbek Vlei River near Brandwacht, Mossel Bay
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“The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Mossel Bay duty crew were activated at 16h12, on Saturday, 21 October 2023, following a request for assistance from Mossel Bay Fire and Rescue Services reporting employees of a local business stranded at a road, cut off by swollen flooding conditions, at the Geelbek Vlei River, near to Brandwacht,” said JC Roos, NSRI Mossel Bay station commander.
A secondary exit had been investigated by the large group of local employees of the local business, attempting to go home from a day at work but that roadway had also been cut off by flooding.
South African Weather Service (SAWS) had forecast heavy rainfall for the area.
“An NSRI rescue vehicle, towing our NSRI JetRib and NSRI volunteers personal vehicles, with a personal NSRI volunteers pencil duck, Western Cape Government Health EMS, Eden Lifesaving, using a pencil duck rescue craft, Mossel Bay Fire and Rescue Services, emergency volunteer response company EDR, Disaster Risk Management (DRM), South African Police Services, SAPS Sea Borderline Control and SAPS Water Policing and Dive Services, using their Police boat, responded.”
83 adults, males and females, secured into life-jackets, without incident were ferried across the river in relays, aboard the four rescue craft, where they were able to then take their arranged transport to their homes. There were no injuries. The operation completed at 19h30.
The swift response and cooperation between services is commended.
Sources: National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI); CFO Joseph Johnston, senior manager: Fire, Rescue and Disaster Management Services, Mossel Bay Municipality
A secondary exit had been investigated by the large group of local employees of the local business, attempting to go home from a day at work but that roadway had also been cut off by flooding.
South African Weather Service (SAWS) had forecast heavy rainfall for the area.
“An NSRI rescue vehicle, towing our NSRI JetRib and NSRI volunteers personal vehicles, with a personal NSRI volunteers pencil duck, Western Cape Government Health EMS, Eden Lifesaving, using a pencil duck rescue craft, Mossel Bay Fire and Rescue Services, emergency volunteer response company EDR, Disaster Risk Management (DRM), South African Police Services, SAPS Sea Borderline Control and SAPS Water Policing and Dive Services, using their Police boat, responded.”
83 adults, males and females, secured into life-jackets, without incident were ferried across the river in relays, aboard the four rescue craft, where they were able to then take their arranged transport to their homes. There were no injuries. The operation completed at 19h30.
The swift response and cooperation between services is commended.
Sources: National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI); CFO Joseph Johnston, senior manager: Fire, Rescue and Disaster Management Services, Mossel Bay Municipality
