Pixabay
Gale force winds sweeping across the Hartebeespoort Dam caused chaos for about 100 people on a leisure cruise on a barge on Saturday.
NSRI station commander, Arthur Crewe, said their duty had been on alert due to earlier weather warnings about gale force winds blowing through the area.
“At 18h50 Saturday, NSRI Hartbeespoort Dam station 25 were activated to multiple reports of a charter barge with an estimated 100 persons onboard in distress, in the middle of Hartbeespoort Dam, reportedly with injuries onboard.
“NSRI Hartbeespoort Dam were on alert at the time due to gale force winds forecast that were sweeping through Hartbeespoort Dam area,” Crewe said.
He said their rescue craft Sea Legs and Rotary Endeavor were launched where on arrival on the scene a number of patients with injuries, including children, were transferred onto the NSRI rescue craft and treatment for injuries commenced.
“Water pumps were transferred onto the barge and water ingress was stemmed,” Crewe added.
He said the barge was towed to the Ifafi Boat Club where once safely berthed no further assistance was required while patients were treated for their injuries.
Crewe also commended the members of the organization “Afriforum, and Harties Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) for responding the scene.
