A new satellite sea rescue and lifesaving station was opened at the Kabeljous Beach on Monday in a joint venture by Kouga Municipality and the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI).
A container, fitted with rescue equipment such as a radio, oxygen cylinders, automated external defibrillators (AED), and a patient bed was placed in the area to help improve lifesaving operations.
Community Services Portfolio Councillor Daniel Benson said the container has been modified to have a lifeguard tower on top and will also be equipped with a quad bike, a jetski and other medical supplies to help with emergency cases.
“We have had drownings in the area and there have also been sightings of sharks in the past.
“We know that this new operations centre will provide manifold improvement to our response time to emergencies, as we will not have to contend with heavy traffic in Da Gama Road during the festive season to reach them,” he said.
In previous years rescue teams had to be dispatched from the lifeguard headquarters and NSRI station at the main beach, who then had to navigate through the busy streets, which caused delays in the response time.
NSRI Station 37 Commander Rieghard van Rensburg said the institute was elated with the latest development.
“The new station is a great motivator for the Kabeljous sea rescue teams.
“Our work is to ensure that people are safe when they go out bathing and any initiative that helps us to improve our service must be celebrated,” he said.
Benson warned bathers to swim only at beaches where there were lifeguards on duty.
“Anybody who does not adhere to this, puts their own life at risk. We want everyone to be safe. One life lost is one life too many,” he said.
