East Londoners who put their lives in danger to respond to sea rescue  emergencies

walked away with top  honours at the National Sea Rescue  Institute awards held in Cape Town in  August.

The East London branch, known as  Station 7, received awards for the best  station and most improved station in  the country.
East London station commander  Geoff McGregor said rescuing someone was a special feeling and the  awards would boost them in their  work.
“When you get to save somebody’s  life and see the appreciation on their  face, it makes [you] feel special,” he  said
McGregor, who has been part of the  East London crew for the past  26years, said they had a highly motivated team that always did their best  at their job.
He said they had 20 qualified  coxswains, 10 crew members and five  trainees. “All the workers at the base  are qualified volunteers who love doing this job.” 
He said one special moment was  when they rescued two guys on a very  rough day off Kei Mouth after their  boat overturned at sea.
“The weather was bad and we had  to get aircraft in to help.” 
He said the boat was upside down  and the two men were sitting on top of  it. “It was very special because we  managed to save a father and a son in  one rescue.” 
The NSRI is run by 980 skilled  unpaid volunteers at 32 coastal and  three inland stations countrywide.  The crew members are always on  standby to attend to urgent matters at  sea. 
NSRI chief executive Ian Wienburg  said the volunteers were special people because they helped people or  animals in need.
“At NSRI, our volunteers take it one  step further. They do not sign up for  ‘two hours on a Thursday’ – they  commit to NSRI and agree to make  themselves available to go at any time,  any place, anyhow.”

Source - Daily Dispatch

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