Port Alfred – The rescue of a trapped bush buck in the Kowie River in Port Alfred led to the rescue of a man badly injured in an assault on the river bank, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said on Friday.
NSRI Port Alfred deputy station commander Stephen Slade said duty crew were activated shortly after 8am following reports of a bush buck seemingly trapped in the water between the canal and the marina on the Kowie River.
Marina security had gone to investigate after the buck was spotted in the water and back-up was being requested.
On the NSRI’s arrival it appeared that the buck, a juvenile ram, had been trying to get up the steep slope to get out of the water, but it was not clear what had led to the buck being in the water.
“Although attempts were being made to reach conservationists to assist, a NSRI volunteer, familiar with animals, was concerned for the buck’s safety and well-being, and the decision was taken, with the NSRI volunteer’s animal expertise, to secure the buck as quickly as possible and attempt to take the buck upstream to be released back on land and out of danger,” Slade said.
NSRI volunteers secured the buck, covered it with blankets to reduce anxiety, and loaded it onto the sea rescue craft Rescue 11 Alpha. It was taken upstream and released back onto land. The buck ran off confidently, appearing to be “no worse off despite the ordeal”.
“While returning to base, approximately 3km upstream on the Kowie River, our attention was hailed by a man on the river bank calling for help.
“On investigation we found a 24-year-old local man on the river bank suffering injuries from an apparent assault sustained the night before,” he said.
The man had reportedly fled from a group of men who allegedly assaulted him on the river bank, escaping the assault by swimming across the river.
He had sustained multiple injuries and was brought aboard the sea rescue craft and treated by NSRI medics. He was taken to the NSRI base where police and the Guardmed ambulance service were waiting, and handed into their care and transported to hospital for further treatment. Police were investigating a case of assault, Slade said.
African News Agency
* Use our Facebook and Twitter pages to comment on our stories. See links below.