National Sea Rescue Institute station 41 launched in Ballito

Aquatic safety on the Dolphin Coast just got kicked up a notch with the establishment of a new National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) base in Ballito.

NSRI Station 41 was recently launched by Ballito’s Quentin Power, who – together with his brother Brendon – has a long history of pulling people out of tight spots.

Many will recognise the Power brothers as the founding members of Specialised Rescue Unit (SRU), a non-profit organisation that has been operating since 2002 conducting rescues and other emergency work.

“The establishment of the NSRI base basically means we can up our game,” Quentin told the Courier.

The NSRI is a national, non-profit organisation with 43 bases across South Africa manned by more than 1000 volunteers.

It is broadly acknowledged to be the authority on water safety.

“Becoming a part of the NSRI network means we can now rely on support from nearby stations, receive the latest in training and accreditation and have existing structures in place to allow us to respond rapidly and effectively to any marine emergency – both at sea and in dams or rivers.”

The organisation also aims to prevent tragedies on the water through educational programs that sees members visit schools and the like to offer water safety presentations.

“The NSRI’s waterwise initiatives have seen more than 400 000 children trained in water safety this year alone.”

Power, who will take charge as the new NSRI station’s commander, confirmed that SRU would still operate, however as an affiliate of the NSRI.

“SRU has functioned as the local rapid response team for the NSRI station in Durban for years.”

Members of the NSRI undergo rigorous training and accreditation processes to make sure each volunteer possesses the necessary skills to carry out their duties.

Another advantage to NSRI membership is that continuous learning programs ensure that skills remain sharp and up to the latest standards in aquatic rescue.

“We receive the same training as the other stations, it means that teams from different bases can come together and function as a unit in any circumstances.”

Currently, Station 41 is making use of the existing SRU “Bat Cave” underneath the Tiffany’s centre, however, they are on the lookout for a permanent base dedicated to the NSRI.

If you would like to get involved, either as a volunteer or as a sponsor, email station41@searescue.org.za.

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