Flare signals rescue of father and son divers in South Africa

11/01/2023

A red flare signalled the rescue of a father and son who went missing while diving off the South African coast.

National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Shelly Beach personnel in KwaZulu-Natal were asked to help one afternoon in late December after a boat crew reported the scuba divers missing.

The boat crew had searched seven nautical miles off Ramsgate for over an hour, without success.

NSRI Shelly Beach rescue craft, Spirit of Dawn, was launched with the duty crew and a police search and rescue officer. Med-Evac ambulance service boat, God’s Gift, also launched, with NSRI crew, Med-Evac paramedics and a Police Search and Rescue officer.

NSRI Port Edward launched the sea rescue craft, Spirit of Steve and Port Net Transnet National Ports Authority helicopter set off with an NSRI Durban rescue swimmer on board. Lifeguards also searched the coastline.

All ships and all aircraft alerts were broadcast and local private boat crew and commercial skippers also joined the search.

Colonel Pine Pienaar, of the SA National Defence Force, a South African Air Force commander, arrived. He assisted NSRI duty controllers to co-ordinate the operation.

Red flare signals rescue

The crew of a private boat, Shot for Shot, found and rescued the father about nine nautical miles south of the original location. It fired a red flare to signal the rescue. The father remained on board to help search for his son.

Another boat crew, Vagabond, located the son seven nautical miles from Palm Springs and he was reunited with his father.

Spokesperson Craig Lambinon says, “NSRI provided them refreshments and some treatment for dehydration, hypothermia and exhaustion. Both are okay requiring no further assistance.

“It appears that they had separated when the son had attempted to swim to shore.”

He commended everyone involved in the search and rescue operation.

The image is courtesy of the NSRI and shows The Spirit of Dawn.