Established in 2004, the Station 32 crew extends its rescue services from South Broom to Waterfall Bluff along the KwaZulu-Natal coast. “We began as a private independent fishing community, which lasted for about a year,” says Station Commander Gert du Plessis, who has been with the station since 2005. “Then we officially became Station 32 on the sixth of November in 2005, when our first NSRI rescue craft arrived. We assist fishing vessels, sailing vessels and swimmers in need along our coast line. Our crew are like a second family. We strive to help people in need, on land and sea. We’ve saved over 20 lives out at sea, and assisted with many more, particularly during the floods in and around Durban.”
For Du Plessis and his crew, the satisfaction of helping a stranger in need, of being able to trust his crew and depend on them, makes the hard work of regular training worthwhile.
Volunteer At This Station
When Stuart Harrison reached for a falling glass one quiet Tuesday afternoon, he didn’t expect to find himself in a life-threatening situation. But in the space of seconds, a simple household mishap turned into a severe medical emergency.
John Nicholas, NSRI Port Edward station commander, said: At 08h15, Monday, 22 September, NSRI Port Edward duty crew were activated following reports from uShaka Marine World of 2 green turtles needing to be recovered at the Umzimkulu River.
WILDERNESS: Ian Gerber, NSRI Wilderness duty coxswain, said: At 15h38, Friday, 27 June, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from a local mom reporting her 2 children and their grandfather trapped by the Spring high tide on rocks at Flat Rock, Wilderness.
A man recovered out of a swimming pool is sadly deceased.
The body of a man, believed to be that of a 22 year old man who went missing in the surf at Southbroom on Thursday, has been located and recovered on Monday by Police divers, assisted by NSRI Shelly Beach.
John Nicholas, NSRI Port Edward station commander, said: At 11h14, Tuesday, 1 April, NSRI Port Edward duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Silver Beach.
The recent successful rescue of a Spanish diver who went missing during a dive on 20 November serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preparation, swift action, and collaboration in ensuring diver safety.
UPDATE - MARGATE PIER INCIDENT: At 08h39, Friday, 22 November, NSRI Port Edward duty crew were activated following eyewitness reports of a body adrift offshore of Mazamba River Mouth.
A 59-year-old Spanish diver missing at Protea Banks was rescued after 3+ hours adrift. NSRI, aircraft, boats, and a TNPA helicopter located her safely 9 nautical miles away; she was uninjured.
SAFET ALERT: NSRI are appealing to the public to be cautious around the coastline where storms around the coast, along the Northern and Western Cape coastline and spreading up the East Coast, coupled with the approaching new moon Spring tide (that peaks on the 3rd of September) creating rough sea conditions will cause dangerous surf and shoreline conditions. Extreme caution is advised.
Battling poor visibility and heavy rain, the crew of the Spirit of Steve rescued four sailors from a sinking yacht 79 nautical miles alongshore. The mission covered a total of 158 nautical miles, showcasing the exceptional coordination between NSRI stations and emergency services.
NSRI Mykonos duty crew launched the NSRI Mykonos rescue craft Spirit of Vodacom to rendezvous with a container motor vessel to medically evacuate a seafarer suffering an injury.
4 sailing yacht crew rescued after their sailing yacht started to take on water after reportedly colliding with a container at sea - they were returning to Durban from East London following the completion of the Vasco da Gama Ocean Race 2024 - Durban to East London:
Gary Wolmerans, NSRI Shelly Beach station commander, said: At 10h38, Sunday, 24 March, NSRI Shelly Beach duty crew were activated following reports of 4 scuba divers missing in the vicinity of Protea Banks, Southern Pinnacle, just over 4 nautical miles off-shore of Margate, KZN South Coast.
A Friday afternoon swim at Silver Beach in Port Edward turned into a harrowing ordeal for two male students… Thanks to local rescue services, tragedy was avoided.
At 15h50, Sunday, 28 January, NSRI Port Edward duty crew were activated following reports of a missing man at Glenmore Lagoon on the Tongazi River, Port Edward.
A busy weekend for our crews in Port Edward who rescued two swimmers, and Gqeberha assisted paddlers and kiteboarders.
NSRI Port Edward duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Glenmore Beach.
PORT EDWARD: Tokkie Livingstone, NSRI Port Edward deputy station commander, said: At 12h35, Friday, 13 October, NSRI Port Edward duty crew were activated following reports of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) efforts in progress at TO Strand, Main Beach, Port Edward.
A man has gone missing at sea after a yacht was located by a tanker where a 57-year-old man from Cape Town reported his brother had gone overboard in rough seas that morning.
At 15h51, Monday, 3 July, NSRI Port Edward duty crew were activated following reports from Med-evac ambulance services of a drowning in progress at Glenmore Beach.
SOUTH COAST KZN – Wednesday, 21 December. 2 missing divers found safe: Gary Wolmerans, NSRI Shelly Beach station commander, said: At 13h20, Wednesday, 21 December, NSRI Shelly Beach duty crew were activated after a local boat, with a crewman of the boat onboard, arrived at Ramsgate reporting that 2 divers, a local father and son, who had been diving from the boat, were missing and were last known to be diving in the vicinity of 7nm off Ramsgate and were adrift in their wet suits and scuba dive gear.
Fatal drownings in St Lucia and Port Edward