Bathers have been warned about the dangerous combination of storm surf and high spring tides slamming into Eastern Cape shores this weekend.
Already on Wednesday, Free State holidaymakers Ruan Coetzer and his teenage son Ludwig were rescued after spending up to three hours clinging to the hull of their fishing jetski.
The jetski floundered, apparently after taking on water, and overturned 2km offshore from Trennery’s near Qholorha mouth on the Wild Coast.
Yesterday, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) issued an Easter weekend rip current warning urging people to be “extra cautious at beaches and along the coastline”.
“The full moon spring tide will cause stronger than normal rip currents around the coast,” said NSRI spokesman Craig Lambinon.
The Coetzers, who launched from Kei Mouth, were rescued by Kei Mouth Skiboat Club members and brothers Deon and Boeta Bouwer, and five crew in the skiboat Manzimnyama.
Deon Bouwer said they were returning from fishing near Mazeppa Bay when the call came to help find the Coetzers, who had already been in the water for more than two hours.
A pencil flare was fired by rescuers from the shore to give the Manzimnyama crew a “line” and a smokey fire was lit too.
Bouwer and crew found the Coetzers hanging on for dear life in a rough, washy ocean with 2m swells running. “The younger oke was very stressed out. He is a surfer and was afraid of sharks.”
Crew member Peter Korff, who knows the Coetzers, said: “The jetski was totally upside down.”
Deon Bouwer jumped into the sea and swam a line of rope to the jetski.
The men were brought onboard, but the jetski was too waterlogged to tow and was abandoned. It was found at sunset on the rocky coast.
“It’s a wreck. It cost about R250000,” said Bouwer.
Bouwer said the Coetzers had been fishing when they noticed the ski becoming unbalanced. A wave flipped it and they could not right it.
Ruan Coetzer did not respond to attempts to contact him.
Looking to the Easter weekend, Lambinon said: “As we head towards winter, bad weather, including big swells for some areas of the coast, are being forecast.
“We can expect bigger waves this weekend which, when combined with the spring tide, will make the rip currents more dangerous than usual.
“Boaters and paddlers are advised to exercise extreme caution. Bathers and shoreline anglers are most at risk of being swept out to sea and extreme caution is advised.
“Even bathers wading in shallow water are at risk of being swept out to sea by rip currents.”
Bathers warned about dangerous rip tide this Easter
Already on Wednesday, Free State holidaymakers Ruan Coetzer and his teenage son Ludwig were rescued after spending up to three hours clinging to the hull of their fishing jetski.
The jetski floundered, apparently after taking on water, and overturned 2km offshore from Trennery’s near Qholorha mouth on the Wild Coast.
Yesterday, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) issued an Easter weekend rip current warning urging people to be “extra cautious at beaches and along the coastline”.
“The full moon spring tide will cause stronger than normal rip currents around the coast,” said NSRI spokesman Craig Lambinon.
The Coetzers, who launched from Kei Mouth, were rescued by Kei Mouth Skiboat Club members and brothers Deon and Boeta Bouwer, and five crew in the skiboat Manzimnyama.
Deon Bouwer said they were returning from fishing near Mazeppa Bay when the call came to help find the Coetzers, who had already been in the water for more than two hours.
A pencil flare was fired by rescuers from the shore to give the Manzimnyama crew a “line” and a smokey fire was lit too.
Bouwer and crew found the Coetzers hanging on for dear life in a rough, washy ocean with 2m swells running. “The younger oke was very stressed out. He is a surfer and was afraid of sharks.”
Crew member Peter Korff, who knows the Coetzers, said: “The jetski was totally upside down.”
Deon Bouwer jumped into the sea and swam a line of rope to the jetski.
The men were brought onboard, but the jetski was too waterlogged to tow and was abandoned. It was found at sunset on the rocky coast.
“It’s a wreck. It cost about R250000,” said Bouwer.
Bouwer said the Coetzers had been fishing when they noticed the ski becoming unbalanced. A wave flipped it and they could not right it.
Ruan Coetzer did not respond to attempts to contact him.
Looking to the Easter weekend, Lambinon said: “As we head towards winter, bad weather, including big swells for some areas of the coast, are being forecast.
“We can expect bigger waves this weekend which, when combined with the spring tide, will make the rip currents more dangerous than usual.
“Boaters and paddlers are advised to exercise extreme caution. Bathers and shoreline anglers are most at risk of being swept out to sea and extreme caution is advised.
“Even bathers wading in shallow water are at risk of being swept out to sea by rip currents.”
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