Family rescued across swollen Berg river

Rieghard Janse van Rensburg, NSRI Jeffreys Bay station commander, said; “At 09h50, Sunday, 05th April, NSRI Jeffreys Bay duty crew were activated following a call from NSRI Port Elizabeth reporting a group of people trapped (cut off from main exit route) by the swollen Bergrivier at the Berg River camping site at Hankey, 30 kilometres from Jeffreys Bay, caused by heavy rains being experienced in the area overnight (125mm of rainfall overnight) and reportedly the situation had deteriorated overnight with the Bergrivier river becoming increasingly swollen by floods blocking the only route out.

“NSRI Jeffreys Bay dispatched a swift water rescue team, accompanied by Daniel Hyman, the NSRI Regional Training Officer, who happened to be at NSRI Jeffreys Bay at the time and experienced in swift water rescue techniques, and an NSRI sea rescue vehicle towing the sea rescue craft LOVED 1’s 24:. to join EC Government Health EMS and the SA Police Services who were already on the scene.

“On arrival on-scene it was confirmed that a number of the weekend campers were satisfied to stay at the camp site to wait out the flood subsiding but a family of 6 had two children, an 18 month old girl and a 3 year old girl both suffering dehydration, fevers and diarrhoea, the 18 month old girl in a more serious condition, and the priority was to get them removed to hospital accompanied by their mom as quick as possible and their 10 year old male child who needed to get to the airport to fly to Johannesburg was also a priority.

“NSRI set up a rope line across the river and using the sea rescue craft LOVED 1’s 24:. to pull along the rope across the river we reached the camp site and in relays first extricated the Mother and the 2 girls who once across the river were transported to hospital by EMS ambulance in stable conditions and the 2 girls being treated by paramedics, then the father, the 10 year old male and the grandmother were ferried across and they were taken away and then NSRI delivered fresh fire wood, supplies and drinking water to the camp site for the remaining campers who are going to remain behind (who chose not to be taken across).

“A rope line has been left behind in case the situation needs to be readdressed between today and tomorrow but for now the rescue operation of the family has been successful and those remaining behind are safe and they are able to activate our help if it should be required.”

The mother and father are Anke and Brett Eke, from Port Elizabeth.