Volunteering for the NSRI requires commitment

THE longest serving female crew member at Richards Bay NSRI Station 19, Brynn Gericke will soon be celebrating 18 years of service.

‘I joined the NSRI thinking I would get some sea experience before heading out on a life at sea,’ said Brynn.

‘Little did I know that I actually get extremely sea sick, so I ended up sticking around.’

A former Deputy Station Commander, Brynn has also received long-service awards and recognition from NSRI headquarters in Cape Town.

She has been a committee member and was involved with the base building project.

‘One of my most memorable call-outs was shortly after I signed up and we rescued two spear fishermen off Amatikulu.

‘Their top boat lost them and went to call for help.

‘They had been in the water all day, and we eventually found them at 10pm after calculating a drift pattern.’

Brynn said it was very difficult to spot them as they had no safety equipment and were both wearing black wetsuits.

They had been unable to swim to shore because the current was running parallel to the coast.

‘It is a great feeling to be able to hand a loved one back to his/her family, but it does not always end well.’

Compassionate people at heart, NSRI crew members are often called on to be an emotional support to grieving families.

Brynn recalls being part of the team that was called out to search for a varsity student in the Maphelane / St Lucia area.

‘The student and his friends were camping and he went missing, presumably after attempting to cross the Mfolozi River between Mapelane and St Lucia.

‘He was never found, and his father and brother spent the night at our rescue station.

‘I stayed with them for the night to offer assistance.’

For those times when call-outs end in tragedy, the NSRI offers counselling for crew members through LifeLine Zululand.

‘It is a huge honour being a NSRI crew member, but it does require commitment.’

Anyone interested in becoming a NSRI volunteer at the Richards Bay station can contact them on 082 9905949.