Latest news with #IanGerber
The Citizen
03-07-2025
- Climate
- The Citizen
Grandfather and 2 grandsons trapped by rising tide in Wilderness rescued
A Friday afternoon fishing outing turned tense when a grandfather and his two grandsons were cut off by the rising spring tide at Flat Rock in Wilderness in the Western Cape and had to be rescued by the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI). George Herald reports that the children's mother alerted the NSRI Wilderness duty crew at 15:38 last Friday, reporting that her sons, aged 10 and 15, and their 72-year-old grandfather were trapped on the rocks by the incoming tide. According to Ian Gerber, NSRI Wilderness's duty coxswain, the trio had been fishing when the tide began to rise, cutting them off from the mainland. 'NSRI rescue teams, assisted by George Fire and Rescue Services, responded to the call,' he says. Two NSRI rescue swimmers entered the surf, carrying life jackets and rope to reach the stranded group. Although the high tide was only expected after 18:00, it had already made returning to shore too dangerous for the family. 'The grandfather and two boys were found safe and in good spirits on the rocks. They were fitted with life jackets and, using a rope system, were brought to shore one at a time by the rescue swimmers. Their fishing gear was also retrieved,' says Gerber. Gerber praised the family for staying put and not attempting to cross the surf on their own. 'They did the right thing by calling for help,' he says. The NSRI also thanked George Fire and Rescue for their support. The family expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the rescuers for their assistance. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
30-06-2025
- Climate
- IOL News
Hiker critically injured in 18m fall in Sedgefield
Gericke's Point and the pristine beaches. Gericke's Point. Image: File THE NSRI has hailed the Good Samaritans who came to the rescue of a fellow hiker who was critically injured when he fell between 15 and 18 meters at Gericke's Point, Sedgefield. Having witnessed the fall on Saturday, the hikers rendered first aid to the unresponsive and seriously injured adult man while raising the alarm. NSRI Wilderness duty coxswain Ian Gerber said the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter was activated by EMS Metro control. 'The patient was stabilised by paramedics and secured into a Stokes basket stretcher and carried about 200 meters to an accessible area for the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter. The bystander Good Samaritans are commended for rendering assistance to the casualty and for swiftly raising the alarm.' In another rescue, Gerber said the NSRI Wilderness duty crew was activated following a request for assistance from a local mother reporting her 2 children and their grandfather being trapped by the Spring high tide on rocks at Flat Rock, Wilderness. 'They had been fishing on Flat Rock when the incoming Spring high tide cut them off from mainland and the alarm was raised. Our NSRI rescue vehicle, NSRI rescue swimmers and George Fire and Rescue Services responded.' Armed with extra life-jackets and rope, two NSRI rescue swimmers were dispatched to wade and swim through the surf zone to the rock. 'The 3 casualties, a grandfather aged 72 and the 2 boys, ages 10 and 15, were safe on the rock, in good spirits, with their fishing gear, but unable to get back to the shore through the surf. Our NSRI rescue swimmers secured the 3 casualties into life-jackets and a rope extrication system was rigged.' They were safely brought to the shore in the care of the NSRI rescue swimmers without incident. Cape Times
