NSRI Teams Bravely Rescue 23 Farm Workers Stranded on Rooftops

Yesterday morning, NSRI rescuers braved rising floodwaters to bring 23 stranded souls, from tiny infants to the elderly, off farm building roofs and back to the safety of dry land.... The post NSRI Teams Bravely Rescue 23 Farm Workers Stranded on Rooftops appeared first on Good Things Guy.

May 13, 2026 - 09:13

NSRI Teams Bravely Rescue 23 Farm Workers Stranded on Rooftops

Yesterday morning, NSRI rescuers braved rising floodwaters to bring 23 stranded souls, from tiny infants to the elderly, off farm building roofs and back to the safety of dry land.

Kleinmond, South Africa (13 May 2026) – On Tuesday morning, 12 May, reports emerged of farm workers trapped on rooftops between Worcester and Rawsonville along the Old N1. This prompted an immediate response from the NSRI Kleinmond crew, who were called in when WC Government Health EMS Metro Rescue and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) required additional resources for the operation.

“With NSRI teams from Mykonos, Yzerfontein, Melkbosstrand, and Head Office already distributed across the Western Cape for flood-related rescues, our Kleinmond crew arrived in Worcester to be briefed by EMS Metro Rescue commanders,” said Schalk Boonzaaier, NSRI Kleinmond station commander.

Upon arriving at the landmark on the Old N1, the crew, wearing wetsuits and foul-weather gear, launched two rescue crafts to reach the farm. There, they found 23 people, including farm workers and their families, who had been trapped by rising floodwaters.

“They had reportedly been on the roofs of the farm buildings since Monday,” Boonzaaier explained.

Using ladders and the rescue crafts, the team evacuated the group in relays. The casualties included babies, toddlers, the elderly, a blind man, and a paraplegic man, as well as several domestic animals, all of whom were successfully brought to safety.

Photo Credit: Supplied by Andrew Ingram (NSRI)

Provincial Traffic Services and an EMS Metro Rescue squad assisted in the evacuation of the farm workers.

“Our rescue crew worked tirelessly despite challenging conditions, often wading and swimming through barely accessible terrain and flooded areas. Once out of harm’s way, safely on terra firma, the workers were taken into the care of the farmer.”

Sadly, two men and one woman were found deceased during the operation. They were recovered from flooded buildings on the farm.

“Condolences are conveyed to the families of the deceased.”

A number of farm animals, domestic animals, and wildlife (including snakes) were also unable to be recovered during the operation.

“We are cautiously optimistic, in all hopes, that as the flooded areas’ water subsides, these animals will survive. NSRI and all services involved express care and thoughts to those displaced by flooding.”

NSRI Kleinmond returned to base at 11 pm and expressed its deep appreciation for the collaboration and cooperation of all emergency services during this mass operation.

We salute every brave member who faced incredibly difficult conditions to save these farm workers, and our thoughts and prayers remain with all the families affected by this natural disaster.