Edited by Bev Mortimer: Yesterday, 12 May, just before 11 am the NSRI Kleinmond, Station 42 volunteer duty crew and others carried out a mass rescue operation saving lives of 23 farm workers and their families trapped on farm building roofs since Monday near Worcester and Rawsonville on the Old N1 roadway.
NSRI rescue crew worked tirelessly despite challenging conditions, often wading and swimming through barely accessible terrain and flooded areas.
Schalk Boonzaaier, NSRI Kleinmond station commander, related that the Kleinmond crew were activated following a request for assistance from WC Government Health EMS Metro Rescue, WC DRM (Disaster Risk Management) and Overberg DRM about following reports of farm workers trapped on farm building roofs near Worcester and Rawsonville, on the old Old N1 roadway.
Kleinmond duty crew members in an NSRI rescue vehicle towing a JetRIB rescue craft, and NSRI CROCS (small canoes) plus NSR crew private vehicles, proceeded to the EMS rescue base at Worcester. They and NSRI crew from Mykonos, Yzerfontein, Melkbosstrand amd NSRI Headquarters station 1. and in cooperation with the emergency services and Police, were briefed by EMS Metro Rescue commanders. Assisting in the operation to evacuate the farm workers were Provincial Traffic Services and an EMS Metro Rescue squad.
On arriving at the nearest landmark on the Old N1 roadway the NSRI crew in wet-suits and wet weather gear launched the NSRI rescue craft JetRIB and the CROCS to reach the farm. They found the workers and their families trapped by flood waters on roofs of farm buildings and using ladders all the flood victims, including babies, toddlers, children, adults, the elderly, a blind man and a paraplegic man, and domestic animals, were all evacuated to safety in relays, using the flotation rescue craft.
The workers and their families were then cared for by the farmer. During the operation 2 deceased men and one deceased woman were located and recovered from flooded buildings on the farm. The bodies were handed over to Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services. Condolences were conveyed to the families of the deceased and the NSRi expressed care and thoughts to those displaced by flooding.
During the operation sadly some farm animals, domestic animals, wildlife (including snakes), could not be be saved. Efforts to save all became increasingly dangerous for the rescue teams.
The NSRI hopes that the animals will survive as the flood waters subside. Appreciation was also expressed for the cooperation with the emergency services during this operation.
NSRI Kleinmond returned to base at 11 pm last night NSRI Agulhas and NSRI Hermanus are mobilising to assist the SAPS and the emergency services deployed in operations yesterday
Photos: NSRI copyright
St Francis Chronicle 