10-08-2025
Honouring the women of the NSRI: Leaders in rescue operations
Nicky Whitehead is the Station Commander for the NSRI Strandfontein.
Image: screenshot/NSRI
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is known for saving countless lives, yet we never get to meet the women who are part of this organsation.
As we celebrate Women's Month this August, it only seems fitting to honour the women from the NSRI's volunteer crew to survival swimming instructors, from support staff to coxswains, who play a vital role in building safer communities along our coastlines and in inland waters.
NSRI CEO, Mike Vonk, said it is vital to pay tribute to the extraordinary South African women who have chosen to serve their communities as volunteers.
'They give their time freely, often in the most demanding environments, responding with courage and skill, day and night. Currently, 28% of the NSRI volunteers are women, a figure that reflects South Africa's leadership in promoting gender inclusion within the maritime rescue sector.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Ad loading
"Compared to similar organisations internationally, this level of female participation is significant and positions the NSRI as a leader in efforts to increase and support women in operational rescue roles,' he said.
Carmen Long, from Hout Bay, a Class 1 Coxswain, said it was never her mission to be the first of women of anything; she just wanted to know whether she could crack the job.
'I joined [the NSRI] because I wanted to be part of something and I wanted to help. As you do your best, opportunities just present themselves. It is a big responsibility and I take that into consideration with every decision,' Long said.
Class 1 Coxswain, Carmen Long.
Image: screenshot/NSRI
Lifeguard Operations Manager, Rebecca Carter-Smith, said being a class 1 coxswain was not an easy feat.
'A class 1 coxswain is responsible for over 10 people. You're responsible for the whole operation at hand, and you're responsible for a R25 million asset,' Carter Smith said.
She described Long as an inspiration who proves to women that they can do anything they set their minds to.
Nicky Whitehead, the Station Commander for the NSRI Strandfontein said the position she is currently in never entered her mind when she started out as a trainee.
The NSRI's Lifeguard Operations Manager, Rebecca Carter-Smith.
Image: screenshot/NSRI
