OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SEA RESCUE – NSRI – STATION 30, Agulhas
SEA RESCUE – Riviersonderend – Sunday, 22 October. 2 cyclists on the Rhino Run assisted:
Reinard Geldenhuys, NSRI Agulhas station commander, said:
At 12h08, Sunday, 22 October, NSRI Agulhas duty crew were activated to assist Overberg Emergency Services responding to the Riviersonderend River, at Jongenskloof, near to Riviersonderend, at a bridge crossing at the river, where an adult female cyclist was trapped in a tree on the flooded river.
An adult male cyclist had used the floatation of his camel water pack to escape the flooded river but he had lost his bicycle in the process, he raised the alarm, while the females bicycle was submerged near to where she had climbed a tree to escape the flood waters.
We believe, while taking part in the Rhino Run, from Plettenberg Bay to Windhoek, they were crossing the road flooded by the river, when they got into difficulties in the fast flowing water.
The river had flooded during heavy rains that were forecast by SAWS (South African Weather Services)
An NSRI Agulhas swift water rescue team responded to Bredasdorp Fire and Rescue Services fire station and from the there the NSRI Agulhas swift water rescue team, Overberg Fire and Rescue Services rescue divers and Overberg Disaster Risk Management responded to Riviersonderend to join WC Government Health EMS and the SA Police Services on the scene.
Ropes were secured across the river to create a secure platform to affect a rescue operation.
4 NSRI swift water rescue swimmers and a Fire rescue diver reached the female in the tree, securing her into a life-jacket, and wading her safely through the river using the ropes for safety they brought her safely through the river to the river bank.
Both of their bicycles were recovered.
They were not injured and the rescuers helped them to clean, oil and make small repairs to their 2 bicycles and both cyclists, riding the Rhino Run together, both from Johannesburg, continued on their way.
