Hennie Niehaus, NSRI Wilderness station commander, said; “At 14h57 on 23 November 2011, NSRI Wilderness volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of 3 teenage male anglers trapped on rocks at Gerricke’s Point, Swartvlei, Wilderness (also known as Lions Head).
“The 3 teenagers, from George, had gone fishing on Gerricke’s Point at low tide but with the approaching new moon (25th November) Spring tide they were cut off from mainland at high tide and called for help fearing that the high tide would swamp the rocks they were on.
“Our NSRI Wilderness volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched our sea rescue craft the DISCOVERY rescue runner and our quad bike was dispatched to the scene while George Fire and Rescue Services were placed on alert.
“On arrival on-scene the 3 teenagers were brought ashore one by one, in relays, aboard our DISCOVERY rescue runner and once all safely ashore they were treated for mild hypothermia before being collected by their parents and taken home no worse for wear.
NSRI urge anglers to wear life jackets while angling from rocks and to check out weather and tides before going fishing.
The new moon Spring tide on the 25th November means that already high tide is higher than normal and low tide is lower than normal (meaning rocky outcrops and islands along the coastline may be swamped at high tide and rip currents will be stronger than normal) and this phenomenon lasts until about 5 days after the new moon Spring tide.
Spring tide happens twice every month of the year at new moon and again at full moon.
