KZN vessels, lifeguards applauded for rescuing bathers
KZN local vessels and several lifeguards have been lauded for saving 13 lives at a beach in Durban.
It's believed the survivors were travelling in a charter vessel touched the ground on a reef just offshore of Vetchies beach at a weekend.
National Sea Rescue Institute says on arrival they had to dispatch 3 surfski to assist in moving the passengers.
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Spokesperson for NSRI Craig Lambinon says at least 5 of the occupants had already been evacuated, while the remaining were taken out after a joint operation was called in to help.
"A number of local vessels and 3 eThekwini rescue craft were assisting on the scene and they were joined by the 3 NSRI rescue craft."
"On arrival on the scene it was found that at least 4 or 5 passengers had been evacuated off the casualty boat by lifeguards, who had swum the passengers, in life-jackets, to Malibu rescue boards and then floated them to lifeguard rescue craft on which they were brought ashore safely without incident."
"A private vessel Boss Express had established the towline to the casualty craft, but efforts to tow the casualty craft off the reef pose dangers and that effort was abandoned."
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