Mounted torpedo buoys placed across uMhlanga beach

THE Umhlanga Rocks Surf Lifesaving Club (Rox) has welcomed the placement of five rescue buoy stations placed along uMhlanga beach.

The yellow rescue buoys are hung on strategically placed poles with signs explaining how they function. In the case of an emergency where someone needs help these buoys can be thrown to the person, providing emergency flotation.

According to chairman of the lifesaving club, Paul Bergset, the initiative was piloted by the club and is supported by the uMhlanga Urban Improvement Precinct (UIP) who have helped with funding and maintenance of the buoys.

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“As a club we got the idea from the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) who started a national initiative at drowning hotspots across South Africa a few years ago. The idea to put forward the project also stems from a fatal drowning at uMhlanga Beach in December last year. Paul Herbert and myself, who are both seasoned lifesavers, responded to the drowning victim north of Bronze Beach. The swell was quite rough on the day and as we got to the man’s body he was pulled under by the sea. His body, to this day, has not been found,” Bergset explained.

“We felt then that the five torpedo buoy stations spread from Durban View Park to Breakers Hotel were needed. Through the UIP we’ve been able to bring this project to fruition and are in the process of placing a sixth station in front of the Umhlanga Lifeguard Tower. Each pole where the buoys are situated all have a sign with clear graphics which explain how to use the buoy. And most importantly, there is an emergency number and a location marker where the person calling can say they are at pole three for example and we’d know where that is.”

Bergset said the initiative had been well received.

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“We feel this initiative will go a long way to making our beaches even safer. While there are lifeguards on duty most of the near-drownings or drownings have taken place either in no swim zones or have happened when lifeguards haven’t even begun their shifts we believe these torpedo buoys will go a long way to helping in a life or death situation,” Bergset said.

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