AUDIO: Strong Spring rip tide warning issued for Easter Weekend

NSRI Spokesperson Craig Lambinon told Traveller24 that the currents will be especially strong on Saturday 4 April, 2015 and has asked bathers and anglers to be especially cautious.

 

"It's not to say it's a danger and we cannot ask people to stay away from the beaches during this, but we are asking that they be aware and cautious around this time," said Lambinon. Most recently a 16-year-old girl passed away after being swept from 

 

Umdloti Beach's shore by a rip current on Saturday, 28 March. The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) of Durban was activated following reports from the eThekwini Fire and Rescue Services of drowning threat at Umdloti Beach. The NSRI managed to rescue the teenager from the water, but after numerous attempts to resuscitate her, she was declared dead by Netcare 911 paramedics on the scene.

 

While rip currents are always present and dangerous, the Spring Tide creates stronger than normal rip currents and hence the danger is increased. In the ocean, there are two high tides and two low tides every day. During Spring Tide the twice daily high tides are higher than normal and the twice daily low tides are lower than normal.

 

In order to stay safe, beach-goers are being asked to adhere to the following safety tips:

 

- Swim only where there are lifeguards and where signs indicate that it is safe to do so.- If you are caught in a rip current, stay calm and relax. Swim slowly and conservatively parallel to the shoreline or relax and let it carry you out past the breakers until it slacks.

- If you see someone else in trouble in the sea, alert the lifeguards or find help. Do not put your own life in danger as well.

- Dont drink alcohol before swimming or driving motor boats. The use of alcohol dulls the senses, slows the reactions and can lead to irresponsible behavior.

- Dont dive from tidal pool walls  this can result in spinal injuries.

- Do not take small or unstable boats out far from the shore in choppy water or bad weather. Emergency Numbers - Emergency calls to these numbers will be routed to the relevant Sea Rescue authority

- Ambulance - 10177

- Police - 10111

Local Port Control Numbers as detailed on the NSRI website:   - Saldhana Port Control 0227141726

- Table Bay Port Control 0214493500

- Mossel Bay Port Control 0446046271

- Port Elizabeth Port Control 0415071911

- East London Port Control 0437002100

- Durban Port Control 0313618567

- Richards Bay Port Control 0357531991 or 0359053401/3444. - Traveller 24