NSRI

02/06/2026

Hout Bay’s Station 8 is weeks away from receiving their new ORC Rescue Craft, and so their crews have been spending some time with us at Station 10 for orientation sessions.
NSRINSRI

29/05/2026

At Rhodes University, many students have never had the chance to learn how to swim, even with a pool on campus.

The NSRI’s Survival Swimming Programme is helping change that, creating a safe space for students to build confidence in the water, often for the very first time.

“I think it’s important to teach adults who can’t swim,” says instructor Carol Mewse. “They’ll pass that confidence on to others.”

For many, the first lesson starts with nerves at the pool’s edge, and ends with small breakthroughs like floating, breathing, and trusting the water.

Rhodes student Hlumisa describes feeling anxious at first, but quickly finding support in a patient, encouraging environment.

“I’ll never forget the smile when someone floats on their own for the first time,” Carol says.

Alongside student lessons, the programme is also training new instructors to expand access across surrounding communities.

With more than 500 students already on the waiting list, the need and impact continues to grow.

See more: https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/04/survival-swimming-expands-to-rhodes-university/

27/05/2026

In December 2024, while visiting family in Kuruman, Reagan Gellant received every
parent’s worst call, his nine-year-old son had been involved in a non-fatal drowning
incident at Meiringspoort.

“That’s when I realised how important water safety really is,” he says.
The experience made Reagan think about children in his own community, many
growing up around rivers and dams without swimming or survival skills.
“What if more of them had the skills to survive?” he asked.

He reached out to the NSRI, and together with Community Programmes Coordinator
Caville Abrahams, helped launch the Dysselsdorp Survival Swimming Programme.
Training began in 2025, equipping local community members to teach survival
swimming.

By December 2025, the first facilitators were certified, ordinary residents now helping
protect children in their own town. “Parents keep asking when their children can join,” Reagan says.
“The need is real.”

What began as a personal scare has become a community solution.

See more: https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/04/nsri-launches-survival-swimming-programme-in-dysselsdorp/

25/05/2026

A Week of Lifesaving Missions: Every week, our volunteer rescue crews answer the call to emergencies across South Africa, from our coastlines to inland waters. Here’s a look at some of the rescues, images, and moments from the past week that reflect their courage, skill, and unwavering commitment to saving lives.

25/05/2026

When Stuart Harrison reached for a falling glass on an ordinary Tuesday afternoon,
he didn’t expect his day to turn into a medical emergency.
“I was washing glasses when one slipped,” he recalls. “As I grabbed for it, it broke
and went straight into my wrist.”

In seconds, a routine moment became serious. With his phone difficult to unlock due
to a bleeding hand, Stuart knew he needed help fast.
“All I needed was someone to know this had happened,” he says.
One thought came immediately, Station 32, Port Edward.
“I phoned Marlene and Kyle from NSRI,” he says. “They were here almost
immediately.” Within minutes, four NSRI volunteers arrived and stabilised him before rushing him
to hospital, where doctors confirmed the glass had narrowly missed a major artery.

“I was very lucky,” Stuart says. “It could have been much worse.”
Station Commander John Nicholas says responses like this are part of daily life for
Station 32, where volunteers often assist with medical emergencies in a remote area
far from ambulance services.

For Stuart, the experience was simple but powerful:
“It’s reassuring to know that help is that close, and that people will drop everything to
come.”

See more: https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/04/kitchen-injury-highlights-nsris-wider-impact/

22/05/2026

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde visited the NSRI Volunteer Support Centre in Cape Town on Friday, 22 May, to personally thank the volunteer crews and staff who responded during the recent devastating floods across the province.

NSRI rescue crews worked through freezing conditions and dangerous floodwaters to help bring stranded families to safety in some of the Western Cape’s worst-affected communities.

We thank every volunteer, emergency worker and partner agency involved in this extraordinary response, and our thoughts remain with all those affected as recovery continues.

22/05/2026

Congratulations to Emily Nkoana and Fauzia Salejee, the winners of an NSRIxbound bag each! Thanks to everyone who entered.

22/05/2026

A local efoiler off Mouille Point recently found himself stranded about 2km offshore after his battery ran flat in otherwise perfect conditions.
Instead of attempting a risky swim in, he stayed calm, secured his equipment, and used his waterproof cellphone to send his GPS location to the NSRI via WhatsApp. That single action made all the difference.

With exact coordinates in hand, Station 3 Table Bay was dispatched immediately and was able to locate him quickly and bring him safely back to shore. NSRI says the incident is a strong reminder that simple preparation, a waterproof phone, basic safety gear, and tools like the SafeTRX app, can dramatically improve response times when things go wrong on the water.

Click link to learn more and download the SafeTRX app:
https://www.nsri.org.za/water-safety/safetrx/

20/05/2026

When the NSRI began training lifeguards along the Wild Coast in 2020, the goal was
to strengthen water safety in underserved coastal communities.

Five years later, that work is reflected not only in safer beaches, but in changed lives.
For Fezile Bodla from Coffee Bay, lifeguarding was never seen as a long-term path,
just seasonal work linked to the ocean. That changed through NSRI training.

“I only knew the ocean one way,” he says. “Now I see many opportunities since
joining the NSRI.”

With guidance from NSRI training officer Simphiwe Rorwana, Fezile grew from
lifeguard to assistant instructor, showing leadership and commitment within his team.
“Fez always embraced learning and brought people together,” says Simphiwe.

Today, that journey has led him to a lifeguarding role aboard an international cruise
ship, a milestone that once felt out of reach.

“I’m happy, but also nervous,” Fezile says. “I’ve never been on a ship before.”
For NSRI, his story reflects more than skills development, it shows what becomes
possible when training meets opportunity. “It’s saving lives, changing lives, and creating futures,” Simphiwe says.

See more: https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/04/from-coffee-bay-to-the-world-how-the-nsri-is-creating-futures/

18/05/2026

A Week of Lifesaving Missions: Every week, our volunteer rescue crews at NSRI answer the call to emergencies across South Africa, from our coastlines to inland waters. Over the past week, operations also included major responses to heavy inland flooding and storm-related emergencies across the Western Cape and Eastern Cape, with crews assisting in rescue efforts, evacuations, and support operations in fast-rising waters and severe weather conditions. Here’s a look at some of the rescues, images, and moments from the past week that reflect their courage, skill, and unwavering commitment to saving lives.

15/05/2026

NSRI Melkbosstrand and NSRI Headquarters Station 1 swift water rescue crews were activated alongside Overberg Disaster Risk Management, SAPS, Fire and Rescue Services, EMS, Traffic Services, Municipal authorities and Community Services to assist communities affected by severe flooding in Wolseley, Gouda...

NSRI Melkbosstrand and NSRI Headquarters station 1, swift water rescue crews, rescue craft and rescue equipment, were activated in cooperation with…

13/05/2026

Today we are wishing Jarod a very happy birthday! We hope you enjoy some well deserved spoils and cake today! 🥳🥳

With love from all of us at Station 10

11/05/2026

This morning Station 10 volunteers assisted in the FBYC Marina, where winds gusting at 110km/h had snapped mooring lines and caused substantial damage to several vessels.

09/05/2026

This morning, Station 10’s Alpha Crew and our Rescue Swimmers joined the TMNP Marine Unit at Buffels Bay in the Cape Point Nature Reserve to conduct a demonstration of our JetRib, and discuss PPE & equipment used in the Rescue Swimmer Programme. Challenging conditions tested the crew and the equipment, but all agreed that it was an educational and fun gathering that we will endeavour to repeat in the very near future.

27/04/2026

A special day for a special crew member!
Happy Happy Birthday, Monique! We hope you enjoy some well deserved spoils and cake today! 🥳🥳

With love from all of us at Station 10

26/04/2026

Station 10’s relationship with the Lawhill Maritime Centre goes back many years, and yesterday we conducted a Pre Sea course for the Class of ‘26.

23/04/2026

We extend our sincere thanks to the members of the False Bay Yacht Club for their generous annual donation towards our fuel costs. Your ongoing support helps keep our rescue crews ready to respond when it matters most.

At the handover of the symbolic cheque (left to right): Claire Walters – Commodore of FBYC; Sharon Crowther; Mia Leisegang; Darren Zimmerman – Station Commander; Simon McDonnell; Peter Eggeling; and Philip Fouché – volunteers at NSRI Station 10, Simon’s Town.

08/04/2026

Today we are wishing Darren G a very happy birthday! We hope you enjoy some well deserved spoils and cake today! 🥳🥳

With love from all of us at Station 10

04/04/2026

A special day for a special crew member!
Happy Happy Birthday, Kevin! We hope you enjoy some well deserved spoils and cake today! 🥳🥳

With love from all of us at Station 10

26/03/2026

A very special day for a very special Coxswain!
Happy Happy Birthday, Wendy! We hope you enjoy some well deserved spoils and cake today! 🥳🥳

With love from all of us at Station 10