NSRI Appeal to ‘Pranksters’ To Return Life-Saving Pink Rescue Floatation Buoy
‘Pranksters’ have removed a new NSRI rescue buoy from the beach in Jeffreys Bay… putting lives at risk. The new Pink Rescue Flotation Buoys are stationed at unprotected beaches along the Southern Cape and Eastern Cape coastlines… and have already been responsible for one successful rescue at Wilderness. NSRI has appealed to the thieves who […]
‘Pranksters’ have removed a new NSRI rescue buoy from the beach in Jeffreys Bay… putting lives at risk. The new Pink Rescue Flotation Buoys are stationed at unprotected beaches along the Southern Cape and Eastern Cape coastlines… and have already been responsible for one successful rescue at Wilderness.
NSRI has appealed to the thieves who stole the flotation device to please return it to NSRI, or return it to its pole on the beach at popular surfing spot Point in Jeffreys Bay.
NSRI has also posted a CCTV video (watch below) and appealed to the public to do the right thing and report the group to the NSRI if you recognise them.
The footage captures the moment the group of youngsters – three young males – appear to have made off with the NSRI Pink Rescue Flotation Buoy.
NSRI says bystanders have come forward saying that they had confronted the group in a heated exchange but, despite being advised to return the buoy to the pole, they continued to load the buoy into a small hatchback, red car with Eastern Cape registration plates and drove off.
NSRI said the buoys are sponsored by donors and are on the beach to save lives. “One life has already been saved when a member of the public used the pink buoy as a flotation aid,” the NSRI said in a press statement.
Dr Cleeve Robertson, NSRI CEO, has urged anyone finding a pink buoy to alert NSRI.
One that was “borrowed” from a Port Alfred beach was returned a couple of days ago. NSRI said: “Of the hundreds we have placed, a handful have been tampered with… but we are sharing information each time one goes missing as we are having a good return rate once people understand what this campaign is all about.”
These Pink Buoys are a joint NSRI and public effort in one of many campaigns launched to prevent drowning around South Africa’s coast.
TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE