NSRI appeal to the public not to set off Chinese Lanterns along the coast as they can be mistaken for red distress flares.
This follows time spent by Port Elizabeth volunteers yesterday searching for a boat or people in distress after supposed red flares were sighted off shore of Main beach at Blue Water Bay.
After two hours of a continuous search offshore and a whole lot of petrol was used , it was discovered that some people had let off Chinese lanterns on the beach and these had been mistaken by witnesses for distress flares.
Ian Gray, NSRI Port Elizabeth station commander, said NSRI Port Elizabeth volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated at 7.50 pm on 14 April following numerous calls from eye-witnesses reporting what they believed to be multiple red distress flares sighted at Blue Water Bay, off-shore of Main Beach.
A group of fishermen had also seen what they thought to be red distress flares go off adding to the credibility of the reports.
“NSRI Port Elizabeth launched our sea rescue craft Eikos Rescuer IV and a search commenced. Our NSRI rescue vehicle was dispatched to begin searching for vehicles and trailers at boat launching slip ways to determine if any boats were overdue. Broadcasts were also made to shipping in the area to be on the look-out for any vessel in distress was placed.
“The eye-witnesses were questioned and one credible eye-witness claimed that one of the supposed red distress flares had been lower in water than the others. This gave rescuers the impression that the incident may have been further out to sea broadening the search area considerably.
“Despite an extensive search no sign of any vessel in distress, overdue or missing could be found. It then transpired that some people on the beach had witnessed Chinese Lanterns being set off in the vicinity .
“Our NSRI sea rescue craft returned to base at 22h03.”
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