NSRI warns of higher-than-usual spring tides
A NUMBER of near-drowning and drowning incidents were reported on New Year’s Day and leading up to New Year, which has prompted the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) to caution coastal users about the changing tides that are expected this week with fullmoon spring tides.
NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said: “Bathers and shoreline anglers along the coast will notice that from yesterday high tides will gradually get higher than normal and low tide will gradually retreat to lower than normal, leading up to the peak of the full-moon spring tide on January 6, with the full moon.”
Lambinon said there was concern that coastal bathers and shoreline anglers, unaware of the full moon (and new moon) spring tides, would be caught off-guard, which could be dangerous as rip currents are stronger in places during an unusually high spring tide.
The Cape Town Weather Office explained: “Spring tide is linked to a full and a new moon and means that the high tide will be higher than normal, reaching its astronomical hightide mark (in essence, reaching further up the beach) and the low tide will be lower than normal, exposing rocks, etc. This happens twice a month and is not uncommon.”
The weather office said for beachgoers, the spring tides would mean either a smaller or larger beach and the public is advised to know when it is high tide to avoid being caught off-guard.
On New Year’s Day, some of the incidents authorities responded to occurred at Maiden’s Cove where a 16-year-old girl was treated after she got into difficulty at Monwabisi tidal pool. A 4-year-old boy was also treated after nearly drowning. And at Muizenberg Beach, a 38-year-old woman was resuscitated. Lambinon said NSRI Strandfontein assisted City lifeguards at Muizenberg Beach where hundreds of bathers were at risk in the water when the tide changed.
Lifesaving South Africa president Dhaya Sewduth said it was important to not only recognise drowning tragedies but also the thousands of drowning incidents that were prevented because of the actions of lifeguards.
“At Alpha Surf Lifesaving Club, 10 people were rescued by lifeguards, while similar reports with varying numbers of rescues was received from Milnerton and Strandfontein Lifesaving Clubs,” he said.
There were at least 20 lifeguards on duty at beaches such as Clifton, who battled with bathers refusing to leave long after the beaches had been closed, Sewduth said.