The Berg River came down in flood over the Easter weekend, trapping campers at the camp site near Hankey (30 km from Jeffreys Bay).
The river swelled after a night of heavy rains and cut off the Berg River camping site said the National Sea Rescue Institute’s (NSRI) Craig Lambinon.
He said a number of weekend campers were satisfied to wait for the flooding to subside, but the family of six had an 18-month-old girl and three-year-old boy who were suffering from dehydration, fever and diarrhoea. They also had a 10-year-old boy who needed to get to the airport to fly to Johannesburg.
The NSRI set up a rope line across the river and used a sea rescue craft to extricate the family. It also delivered firewood, supplies and drinking water to the remaining campers.
A rope line has been left behind in case the remaining campers need the help of the NSRI.
