A party boat with about 100 passengers, some of whom had been injured, had to be rescued from the Hartbeespoort Dam during a storm on Saturday night.

The Hartbeespoort NSRI, in collaboration with AfriForum Hartbeespoort, responded after an emergency call was received at 18:50 about the Harties Party Boat in distress in the middle of the dam with injured people on board.
“We were on alert at the time due to gale force winds in the Hartbeespoort Dam area. We immediately activated our boats and arrived at the passenger vessel soon after. Several injured people and traumatised children were transferred to the NSRI rescue vessel and safely taken to the Ifafi Aquatic Club shore where Hartbeespoort Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) was waiting. Afriforum Hartbeespoort assisted,” said Arthur Crewe of Hartbeespoort NSRI.
“Water was flooding the passenger barge and water pumps were transferred onto the barge to pump it out. The vessel with the remaining passengers was towed to the Ifafi boat club at 21:00,” Crewe said. Injured people were treated by HEMS paramedics.
“The NSRI commends the swift response and the swift assistance by Afriforum Hartbeespoort and HEMS during the rescue operation.”
The incident will be investigated by the relevant authorities.

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