Liezl van der Merwe enthralled members of the South African Association of Retired Persons group at Elphin Lodge recently when she shared insights into the work done by the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI). An NSRI guest speaker, Liezl explained that the NSRI was established in 1967, and has around 1 500 volunteers on standby 24/7 to assist those in need. There are 45 rescue stations – 39 on coastal and six on inland water. A great NSRI initiative, she explained, is the Pink Rescue Buoys. “We have deployed over 1 900 of them around the coast of South Africa and they provide critical assistance to those who take it upon themselves to rescue those who find themselves in difficulty. More than 180 people have been rescued as a result of the buoys, that we know of.” The NSRI also assists with animal rescues, she explained. For more info, visit www.nsri.org.za
