NSRI St Francis Bay and Jeffreys Bay assisted eight men to safety on shore when their boat experienced mechanical failure offshore of Aston Bay this afternoon.
Six of the men who were divers had abandoned the boat and were attempting to swim the 800 metres to shore.
Rieghard Janse van Rensburg, NSRI Jeffreys Bay station commander, said at 4 pm today, 13 February 2014, NSRI Jeffreys Bay and NSRI St Francis Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crews were activated following reports of red distress flares being observed coming from a boat off-shore of Aston Bay, near to Jeffreys Bay.
The NSRI duty crew from both stations launched the sea rescue craft Discovery Rescue Runner 12 and Spirit of St Francis II and NSRI rescue swimmers responded directly to the scene. Relay private ambulance services responded to stand-by at the NSRI Jeffreys Bay station.
When the crew reached the boat there were six divers in the water and two local men in the boat. “The rescue swimmer and the Discovery Rescue Runner assisted the six divers ashore and Spirit of St Francis II towed the casualty boat to Port St Francis. One of the men on the boat who had sustained an injury to his leg was treated.
“The injured man was advised to have his injured leg seen to but once ashore the men required no further assistance,” Rieghard added.
(edited)
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Rieghard Janse van Rensburg, NSRI Jeffreys Bay station commander, said t 4 pm today, 13 February 2014, NSRI Jeffreys Bay and NSRI St Francis Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crews were activated following reports of red distress flares being observed coming from a boat off-shore of Aston Bay, near to Jeffreys Bay.
The NSRI duty crew from both stations launched the sea rescue craft Discovery Rescue Runner 12 and Spirit of St Francis II and NSRI rescue swimmers responded directly to the scene. Relay private ambulance services responded to stand-by at our NSRI Jeffreys Bay station.
When the crew reached the boat there were six divers in the water and two local men in the boat. “The rescue swimmer and the Discovery Rescue Runner assisted the six divers ashore and Spirit of St Francis II towed the casualty boat to Port St Francis. One of the men on the boat who had sustained an injury to his leg was treated.
“The injured man was advised to have his injured leg seen to but once ashore the men required no further assistance,” Rieghard added.
(edited)
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St Francis Chronicle 
”Glad to see the flares as I suggested are also being used. A big lifesaver when in need and distress at sea”. A real must!