The NSRI have again appealed to sea-farers, bathers and anglers to exercise caution during the prevailing big swells which are currently being experienced along the coast.

A big concern is for anglers fishing from rocks. They are always at risk of being swept off the rocks by waves that may swamp areas along the coastline. In places the swell is pushing up to 10 metres in height.

Last Saturday, two young girls who had been playing on the rocks on Wilderness beach, were caught unawares when a large wave broke behind the rocks and they suddenly were surrounded by water. Fortunately, two fire fighters who were passing by, saw what was happening and ran into the water to help the panicked children.

Life jackets and distress flares

Anyone launching any kind of craft to go to sea should wear a life jacket at all times.

In another appeal the NSRI are urging people not to set off red distress flares unless they are in a dire emergency situation.

Last week NSRI Plettenberg Bay launched three rescue crafts to search an area in the vicinity of Robberg where red distress flares had reportedly been seen activated. However, the reason for the red distress flare activation are unknown and no-one was found to be in any kind of distress.

These prolonged searches place a strain on NSRI rescue resources engaged in the operation, while they may be needed elsewhere in a real emergency, placing others’ lives at risk, and placing the rescuers themselves at unnecessary risk.

by AUDREY SCHELAN