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When heroes are born
The ocean doesn’t negotiate. It doesn’t care about your plans, your fears, or your comfort zone. Last week, as waves crashed with relentless force along the coastline, a group of brave souls stood ready to face one of South Africa’s most demanding assessments – the Class 4 coxswain evaluation. For those unfamiliar with the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), this moment represents the very essence of what makes this volunteer organisation so vital to South Africa’s coastal communities. Since 1967, the NSRI has been the backbone of maritime emergency response, saving countless lives through the dedication of volunteers who willingly put themselves between danger and those in distress. The NSRI operates over 50 rescue stations, responding to everything from fishing boat emergencies to yacht rescues, from drowning incidents to medical evacuations. But behind every successful rescue lies years of rigorous training, and last Saturday’s assessment was a crucial milestone in that journey. The Class 4 coxswain candidates from NSRI Kleinmond weren’t facing gentle training conditions – they were confronting the kind of surf that separates the committed from the merely curious. Photo: Jean Garrett Photography 063 717 9410