Rieghard Janse van Rensburg, NSRI Jeffreys Bay station commander, said; “At 13h54 on Friday 23 November, NSRI Jeffreys Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of two rigid inflatable boats with 3 males and 1 female onboard 2 hours overdue at their destination in Jeffreys Bay from a voyage from Port Elizabeth to Jeffreys Bay and the overdue boats could not be raised by communications by a concerned friend who raised the alarm.
“Our NSRI Jeffreys Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched our sea rescue craft LOVED 1s 24:. and our Discovery Rescue Runner and responded to begin a sweeping search from Jeffreys Bay towards Port Elizabeth. Our Discovery Rescue Quad Bike and our sea rescue vehicle were dispatched to begin a shore search in the direction of Port Elizabeth and NSRI Port Elizabeth volunteer sea rescue duty crew prepared to launch to begin a search from Port Elizabeth towards Jeffreys Bay.
“During a search we found both boats and all 4 crew safe and drifting on the coast in calm sea conditions between the Kabeljous Beach and the Gamtoos River Mouth. It appears that both boats had suffered mechanical motor problems causing them to drift until help arrived.
“In two relays we towed both boats safely to Jeffreys Bay.
“The crew of the casualty boats have respectfully requested that their names are not released.
“Once both boats and all 4 crew were brought safely ashore they required no further assistance and they were not injured.”
