Dick Manten, NSRI Vaal Dam station commander, said; “At approximately 17h00 on Saturday 29 October our NSRI Vaal Dam volunteer duty rescue crew were activated following eye-witness reports of a small yacht (a Gypsy) capsized on Vaal Dam near Deneysville, opposite the VAALPRIVE guest resort, with 3 people onboard, a 2 year old male, a 7 year old female and their father.
“A husband and wife, camping on the Vaal Dam banks, who witnessed the small yacht capsize raised the alarm.
“Our NSRI volunteer duty crew launched our sea rescue craft HARVEY’S FIBERGLASS and our private boat SKINRAY, which was on the water nearby at the time, diverted to respond to the scene.
“Metsimaholo Fire and Rescue Services also responded.
“On arrival on-scene our rescue crews were met by pandemonium on the water.
“It appears that an Argentinian family, on holiday in South Africa and staying at VAALPRIVE, were having a picnic on the banks of the Vaal. The father and two children had launched the small sailing craft and when they capsized, about 100 meters off-shore, another 3 members of the family, who were on the shore, launched paddle-ski’s to go to their rescue. The wind was gusting up to 40 knots South Westerly (with a thunderstorm approaching) and the winds were just too strong for the paddle-ski’s.
“The father was found hanging onto the capsized hull of the Gypsy. Two of the paddle-skiers had managed to pluck the two children from the water but all three paddle-ski’s (including the one that the mother was on) were being blown across the dam rapidly in the strong winds.
“Our NSRI rescue craft HARVEY’S FIBERGLASS and our boat STINGRAY rescued all 6 people from the water. The small yacht and all 3 paddle-ski’s were also recovered (the yacht was towed ashore).
“It is strongly believed that all 6 people survived because they were all wearing life-jackets. The toddler and the little girl were both plucked from the water by their family friends on paddle-ski’s only to land up being swept across the dam by strong winds.
“When the children and their mother were taken safely onto our sea rescue craft they all burst into tears we suspect in relief for all being saved.
“It is not clear if they had been properly briefed on safety by the resort management and the matter has been referred to SAMSA (The South African Maritime Safety Authority).
“Once safely ashore our NSRI medics and the Metsimaholo Fire and Rescue Services paramedics assessed the family and their friends and they were treated for shock but required no further medical assistance.
“Then at approximately 17h55 on Saturday 29 October our NSRI Vaal Dam volunteer rescue crew were activated to reports of a father and son trapped on an Island, on Vaal Dam, near to Frankfort.
“It appears that a father, his son, and a friend of the father, were fishing on small rubber-canoe’s at Pinloop, near the Klip River, when the wind blew the father and son across the dam where they managed to paddle to reach the Island, at a barely accessible area of the dam, but although being safe on the island they were unable to leave the island being unable to paddle against the strong wind, and they needed help.
“Our rescue resources were activated to respond but just as suddenly the wind dropped and by the time our rescue crews were only half way to the scene the friend called us to confirm that both had reached the safety of mainland.
“They are believed to be from Johannesburg.”
