PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Local resident Marty Reddering, still surfing at 69, has celebrated 50 years of membership of the NSRI.
Reddering, who was a skipper for 25 years and continues to be a crewman going out on operations, received his 50-year service award recently during the annual awards presentations of the NSRI, held at Zimbali in KZN.
“Things have changed over the years. When I first joined Plett Station 14, it was a tiny little boatshed.
“Now we have a proper, fully-fledged station with state-of-the-art boats and technology, which has improved the rate of rescue of people in distress,” said Reddering.
Two brothers
He became interested in the NSRI in 1974 when his two brothers, who were part of sea rescue, asked him to participate in a rescue exercise as a surfer off Lookout Beach.
“That was when the seed was planted and I joined the NSIR after completing my matric,” said Reddering.
One rescue that stands out was at Nature’s Valley, with a woman in the process of drowning. It took the boat about 15 minutes to reach the 30 year old.
“It is a long beach and we didn’t know where to start. Fortunately as the boat stopped we saw her.
“We dived in and hauled her out - it was a life saved.”
Reddering said that working together, and the joy of saving a life, was “incredible”.
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