“I have always been involved in rescue work,” says Station Commander Kevin Fourie, “and had always wanted to volunteer with the NSRI. Finally, the opportunity came when I was approached to open a base in Rocky Bay in 2017, and the rest is history.”
The base building was built and officially completed the very next year, in 2018, and its crew has since received four NSRI excellence awards, including Most Improved Station in 2020, and more recently the Meritorious Service Award for their rescue efforts during the KwaZulu-Natal floods.
“The most common rescues we receive call-outs for include capsized ski vessels, paddleskiers in distress, and yachts requiring assistance. My most memorable rescues occurred during the floods in April 2022, where we were called out to rescue hundreds of people stranded in houses and factories in Isipingo.”
Kevin and his crew have a passion for rescue work, operating under pressure in challenging environments, and family values. “I am proud to say I have a fantastic group of dedicated volunteers who go above and beyond in their efforts to save lives on South African waters. We are a small station with a big heart and work together as a family unit. This has been a wonderful opportunity for me to offer all the skills I have learnt over the many years and to share my knowledge with our sea rescue crew.”
Volunteer At This Station
At 12h24, Friday, 2 January, NSRI Rocky Bay, Police Search and Rescue, IPSS Medical Rescue, lifeguards, Metro Police Search and Rescue and the SA Police Services were activated and responded to reports from Gladiator Security of a drowning in progress at Umkomaas.
At 18h20 on Thursday, 1 January, the KZN surf rescue network was alerted to what was initially reported as at least three people in distress in the surf zone at Pennington Beach, near the tidal pool on the KZN South Coast.
KZN SOUTH COAST: Linda Putter, NSRI Rocky Bay deputy station commander, said:
A search is ongoing at Scottburgh Point Main Beach, KZN South Coast, where a man is reported missing.
NSRI, lifeguards, Police and the emergency services have attended to multiple rescue operations over the past weeks, including sadly an increase in drowning accidents around the coastline and on inland waters.
UPDATE PENNINGTON BEACH INCIDENT: At 06h50, Friday, 22 November, NSRI Rocky Bay and the SA Police Services responded to Pennington Beach following reports of a body located on the beach.
At 08h16, Tuesday, 11 June, NSRI Rocky Bay, an NSRI lifeguard, an NSRI Durban crewman, the SA Police Services, Police Search and Rescue, Netcare 911 ambulance, eThekwini Fire and Rescue Services, KwaZulu EMRS (Emergency Medical and Rescue Services), Metro Search and Rescue and the KZN surf lifesaving network were activated by eThekwini surf lifeguards, on duty at Umgababa Main Beach, reporting a boat (a 5.5 meter RHIB – rigid hull inflatable boat), a commercial fishing vessel, capsized at the backline surf zone at Umgababa Main Beach, between Scottburgh and Amanzimtoti – KZN South Coast.
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.
The coastal resort town of Scottburgh is home to an award-winning rescue crew.
Police Search and Rescue are continuing in an ongoing search for a 17 year old male who went missing at Scottburgh Beach on Saturday, 11 March.