Edited by Bev Mortimer-A couple of cyclists on the Rhino Run were assisted by NSRI and other rescue services on Sunday this past weekend when they were floundered in the flooded Sonderend River.
The woman’s cycle was submerged near to where she climbed a tree to escape the flood waters while the man lost his cycle in the river when he used the flotation of his camel water pack to escape the flooded river. The pair of cyclists, Kim Brearley and James Trubshaw, were participating in the Rhino Run from Plettenberg Bay to Windhoek and apparently got into difficulties when they crossed the fast flooding, flooded river after heavy rains.
NSRI volunteer duty crew from Cape Agulhas, Station 30, assisted rescue services to evacuate a woman trapped in a tree and help the man. Reinard Geldenhuys, NSRI Agulhas station commander, said the incident happened at Jongenskloof near Riviersonderend at a bridge crossing at the river.
An NSRI Agulhas swift water rescue team responded to Bredasdorp Fire and Rescue Services fire station and from the there the NSRI Agulhas swift water rescue team, Overberg Fire and Rescue Services rescue divers, plus the Overberg Disaster Risk Management responded to Riviersonderend to join WC Government Health EMS and the SA Police Services at the river.
Ropes were secured across the river to create a secure platform. Four NSRI swift water rescue swimmers, a police sergeant and a fire rescue diver reached the woman in the tree and secured her in a life-jacket.
The woman was then waded safely through the river using ropes for safety and brought to the river bank and assisted by the police and EMS rescue paramedics. both cyclists were uninjured.
Rescuers helped the pair clean, oil and effect small repairs to both cycles. The two cyclists from Johannesburg, who were riding the Rhino Run together, continued on their way.
