NSRI

10/03/2026

Congratulations to Thuli Phakathi, the winner of a Fieldbar Gin Trunk and R500 ShopNSRI gift card. Thank you to all those who entered!

10/03/2026

Win a Suzuki Jimny. Help save lives. 🚗

Cars4Good 2026 gives you the chance to win one of four brand-new Suzuki Jimny 5-door vehicles, while directly supporting NSRI’s rescue vessels, lifeguards and drowning prevention programmes.

With a limited number of tickets available at R695 each, this is more than a competition. It’s life-saving impact in action. You can make a difference.

Click link to enter: https://www.nsri.org.za/support-us/nsri-car-2026/

09/03/2026

A Week of Life-saving Missions: Every week, our volunteer rescue crews respond to emergencies across the country, from coastlines to inland waters. This is a look at some of the rescues, images, and moments from the past week that demonstrate their courage, skill, and dedication to saving lives.

06/03/2026

From NSRI rescue vessel to a 98-metre French Navy warship 🚢
Dean Wegerle spent 10 days at sea, standing watch on the bridge, running emergency drills, learning celestial navigation with a sextant, and experiencing life on blue-water patrol.

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and a powerful reminder that NSRI skills stand shoulder to shoulder with the best in the world.

05/03/2026

An American man has gone missing in the rough seas off Diaz Beach near Cape Point in Cape Town.

An American man has gone missing in the rough seas off Diaz Beach near Cape Point in Cape Town

04/03/2026

NSRI teams across Durban, Richards Bay, and Gqeberha successfully executed three high-stakes medical evacuations this week, including a dramatic helicopter hoist in rough seas and two offshore vessel-to-vessel transfers.

NSRI teams across Durban, Richards Bay, and Gqeberha successfully executed three high-stakes medical evacuations this week, including a dramatic…

27/02/2026

Every year at Elandsberg Dam, NSRI turns knowledge into action. Children graduating from the Riebeek Kasteel Survival Swimming Centre practice survival techniques in a dam for the first time, with support from volunteers, police divers, and the wider community. Through these exercises, NSRI is creating a culture where safety, responsibility, and self-rescue skills are valued, and where tragedies can be prevented before they happen.

25/02/2026

Summer brings thousands of people to South Africa’s coastline, but the ocean is unforgiving. Rip currents can form suddenly, even in seemingly safe conditions, sweeping swimmers out to sea. NSRI’s Pink Rescue Buoy programme has saved hundreds of lives since 2017, offering immediate flotation support while help arrives. The lesson is clear: respect the water, swim at lifeguarded beaches, and never underestimate the power of the sea. Awareness and caution can mean the difference between life and tragedy.

24/02/2026

19/02/2026

From rescues off Hout Bay to extreme conditions far offshore, the Spirit of Ubuntu will enable NSRI volunteers to respond faster, safer, and further than ever before. At roughly R26 million, this state-of-the-art rescue vessel is a long-term investment in our nation's safety. Italtile’s bold step as the first partner reflects courage, community spirit, and purpose-driven action. With nine corporate spots still open, this is your chance to join a legacy that truly matters.

Learn More: https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/01/italtile-leads-the-way-as-the-first-brand-to-claim-a-spot-on-the-spirit-of-ubuntu/

17/02/2026

Roxy Traylor didn’t always love the ocean. As a child, the waves intimidated her, and confidence in the water didn’t come easy. But through dedication, training, and a life-changing Robben Island swim, she found respect and courage in the sea. Today, at just 22, she’s a coxswain at NSRI Table Bay, leading rescues and saving lives. Her story reminds us that the ocean demands respect, preparation matters, and passion can transform fear into purpose.

09/02/2026

Download the app now! 🙌

Alright okes, today we’re chatting about the one logo you pray you never need… but you’re damn grateful when you do.

Ja, we’re talking about the 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗲.

If you don’t know who the NSRI is, then you’ve either never been near water in SA… or you’ve been cruising on pure luck and brandewyn fumes your whole life.

These are the okes that arrive when:
• the motor won’t start,
• the weather turns feral,
• the fog closes in,
• or your “quick paddle” turns into a Netflix survival documentary.

They’re basically the reason a bad day doesn’t turn into a funeral.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝘁𝘀: 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗼𝘀, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺
NSRI boats aren’t there to look pretty at the slip...

• 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝘁𝘀 – flip them upside down and they just roll back like “ja nee, nice try boet”
• 𝗝𝗲𝘁𝗥𝗜𝗕𝘀 – no props, straight into the surf, right next to a drowning oke without chopping him into calamari
• 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀 – Running 50+ nautical miles offshore to pull people off ships when s**t goes south.

And lekker bonus:
Most of these boats are 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮, tuned for our coastline where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans constantly have a domestic dispute.

But here’s the thing…

Even with the best boats, the hardest part of rescue is still this one word:
𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂.

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆’𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻
Today’s post is not about the boats.
It’s not even really about the rescues.

It’s about the app that turns:

“We think he was somewhere out there…”
into
“Cool, we’re on our way. We’ve got your coordinates.”

Enter: 𝗡𝗦𝗥𝗜 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗧𝗿𝘅.

𝗡𝗦𝗥𝗜 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗧𝗿𝘅 – 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴
Let’s be honest for a second.

Your phone is full of rubbish:
• Tinder (you’re not using it properly anyway)
• Temu (stop lying to yourself)
• Spur app (you open it once a year)

Delete something.
Make space.
Download 𝗡𝗦𝗥𝗜 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗧𝗿𝘅.

Because this app does one very important thing:
𝗜𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗦𝗥𝗜 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲.

No guessing.
No “last seen near the point”.
No helicopters flying around burning fuel while your family is pacing the lounge.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗧𝗿𝘅 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 (𝗻𝗼 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲)
• You log your trip
• You say where you’re going and when you’ll be back
• You choose emergency contacts
• If you don’t “close” your trip... alarms go off
• Your family AND NSRI get notified
• Rescue starts with your actual GPS track

That’s the difference between:

searching the ocean
and
driving straight to you

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗳𝗳 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲
This app is smarter than most skippers before coffee:
• If your phone battery drops, it saves power
• At 30% it slows tracking to keep your phone alive
• At 10% it keeps enough juice for a final call
• Even with no signal, it records your route
• As soon as signal comes back... boom, uploads everything
• Works with Garmin SOS watches (hands wet, still works)
• Lets you mark yourself as “willing to assist” and help someone nearby faster than a boat launch

It’s not just for boats either:
• surf-ski
• kayak
• SUP
• coastal hikes
• fishing
• paddling
• that “I’ll just go check the conditions quickly” mission

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗽𝗽 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 (𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗼𝗿𝘆, 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀)
People have been pulled out of:
• 4m swell
• thick fog
• dead engines
• hypothermia situations

Because 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗧𝗿𝘅 𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗦𝗥𝗜 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗼.

Not “somewhere in False Bay”.
Not “off Gqeberha”.

𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲. 𝗢𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝘁.

And before you ask…
Yes... it’s FREE.
No subscription.
No ads.
No nonsense.

So if you go near water in South Africa and you don’t have SafeTrx, you’re basically saying:
“If something goes wrong, I hope someone guesses correctly.”

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱
You don’t download SafeTrx because you’re scared.
You download it because you’re 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗽.

It doesn’t stop you from pushing limits.
It lets you push limits with a safety net.

Download it.
Set it up once.
Use it every time.

Now tell me in the comments:
Who’s already using SafeTrx… and who just realised they’ve been winging it their whole life?

NSRI

01/02/2026

GEORGE NEWS -  An Austrian male tourist...

29/12/2025

Come join us this Friday evening! 👏

Chain Gang Events

GEORGE NEWS - The 13th annual Carne’s...

19/12/2025

Come join us for a lekker run on the beach 🙌

Looking forward to a beautiful night on the beach - from Gericke's Point to Wilderness for the 21km or from Kleinkrantz to Wilderness for the 7km.

NSRI Fundraiser

Enter online : https://www.entryninja.com/events/82948-full-moon-beach-run

SANParks - Garden Route (Tsitsikamma, Knysna & Wilderness) National Park
Garden Route National Park Wilderness section
George Tourism
Spar Wilderness George

18/12/2025

Jonathan Britton, NSRI Wilderness station commander, said:
At 16h13, Monday, 15 December, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated following reports of a local man swept off rocks by waves while (we believe) gathering fishing bait, with friends, on the coastline near to Thembalethu, George.
https://www.nsri.org.za/2025/12/man-swept-off-rocks-near-thembalethu-remains-missing-after-extensive-nsri-search/

09/12/2025

Jonathan Britton, NSRI Wilderness station commander, said:
At 13h12, Sunday, 7 December, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated following reports from the George Municipal NSRI lifeguards at Leentjiesklip, Wilderness Beach, who were responding to 2 persons in distress in the surf zone - both casualties appeared to be caught in rip currents.
https://www.nsri.org.za/2025/12/two-men-rescued-from-rip-currents-at-wilderness-beach/

04/12/2025

🛟🌊 LIFEGUARDS ON OUR BEACHES 🛟🌊

☀️ 1 Dec -12 Dec from 9am-5pm
☀️ 13 Dec - 31 Jan from 7am-7pm

📍Victoria Bay
📍 Herolds Bay
📍 Wilderness Main
📍 Leentjiesklip
📍Steps Beach
📍 Gwaing River Mouth
📍 Wilderness Lagoon

☀️ 9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm
📍 Conville Municipal Swimming Pool
📍 Uniondale Municipal Swimming Pool

💥 Remember to always swim where there are lifeguards!

☎️ Emergency numbers to call:
NSRI Wilderness - 082 990 5955
George Fire Department - 044 803 6311
George Municipality (After Hours) - 044 803 6300
NSRI Mossel Bay - 082 990 5954
NSRI Knysna - 082 990 5956
NSRI Plett - 082 990 5975

03/12/2025

A privilege to teach these amazing students about water safety at our beaches! 👏 ❤️

25/11/2025

Station 23 recently held its Year End function where we celebrated and reflected on everything that 2025 has been, the lessons we’ve learned and the growth of our station 🤗

We were lucky enough to be joined by 5 former Station Commanders (Andre Crous, Eckert Brand, Hennie Niehaus and Robert van Helsdingen) as well as our CEO (and former StatCom), Mike Vonk 🤩

We listened to stories about how Station 23 began, the incredible moments and the tragic rescues that have stayed with former StatComs over the years, and how, 40 years ago, our station recorded its very first rescue 👏

🏆 We had multiple awards to hand out to some very deserving volunteers - including 3 new awards:

On course award - Jaylene Engelbrecht
Just in time award - Ian Ge**er/Bryce Conlon/Grant Jerome
Commitment award - Ian Ge**er
Real Wisdom award - Ken Field
Crewmember of the year - Mareé Pio
Trainee of the year - Ruben Bernardo
Hotel Tango Foxtrot Oscar award - Hermann Brönner
Mielie award - Hermann Brönner
Phantom Frequency award - Garth Dominy
Oh Ship award - Ian Ge**er

We also handed out some long service awards:
15 years - Mike Vonk
15 years - Warren Page
5 years - Gehard Rosenmann
5 years- Jaylene Engelbrecht

We also officially welcomed Vicki Boyes as the newest Shore Crew member of our station 👏

Lastly, a HUMONGOUS THANK YOU to the spouses, partners and families of all the crew at Station 23. Without your support, understanding and love, we would not be able to do what we do. You are all just as much a part of our station as any crew member is ❤️rn

18/11/2025

🛠️ Maintenance Day at Station 23!

On Sunday our crew rolled up their sleeves for a full maintenance day - an important part of keeping our station ready for whatever comes our way. 🧰🛠️

We checked equipment, packed and re-packed medical gear, gave all our assets the attention they deserve and cleaned every nook and cranny we could! 🧼

As our Station Commander said, “Maintaining our assets and equipment is as critical as training itself. It's essential for performing safe rescues, it minimizes the likelihood of equipment failure when it matters most, and it deepens our understanding of how everything works-knowledge that becomes invaluable when things go wrong.” 👏

A huge thank you to the crew for the effort, teamwork and pride you bring to our station ❤️

Check out some highlights below!

28/10/2025

We just wanted to say a HUGE THANK YOU to Sedgefield Melodrama for the enormous contribution you’ve made to our station 🥳❤️

You guys put on a fabulous show which left the crowd in tears of laughter and joy! We couldn’t contain ourselves!

Also, a huge congrats to three of our crew members who took part in the show - Megan, Jaylene and Carla. Your hard work and long nights at rehearsals paid off big time 👏

We’d also like to say a huge thank you to the Sedgefield community for showing such amazing support of this event. Rest assured that all of the money donated to us by you, will remain in Sedgefield by helping to fund our Lifeguard Project over the fast approaching festive season 🤩👏

We are hugely grateful and honoured by your gracious donation 👏