Four men were rescued after spending several terrifying hours clinging to a ski-boat that was precariously balanced at the edge of a dam spillway, just metres from a 40-metre drop into the Vaal River in South Africa’s Mpumalanga province.
The dramatic incident unfolded on Monday at Grootdraai Dam, where emergency responders found the boat stranded on the spillway, pinned by fast-flowing water. According to the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), the ski-boat had suffered a mechanical failure and lost power, causing it to drift dangerously close to the dam wall.
Race against time at the spillway
Local police divers first raised the alarm after discovering the men trapped on the edge. NSRI rescue teams were dispatched from Witbank and Benoni, travelling nearly 150 km to reach the scene. Multiple agencies, including police, health services and the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), were already present but were unable to access the stranded men due to the extreme conditions.
In a crucial intervention, a DWS official opened three sluice gates, creating a vacuum that reduced water pressure and prevented the boat from being swept over the dam wall. However, this also left the vessel stuck in a highly unstable position.
One chance to save four lives
NSRI station commander Travis Clack led the rescue effort, carefully manoeuvring a rescue craft upstream amid strong winds and turbulent currents. As the team approached, they realised there would be only one opportunity to extract all four men.
A throw line attached to a rescue buoy was deployed, and the men were instructed to secure themselves to it. Despite initial hesitation, they followed instructions. Using reverse thrust, the rescue craft pulled all four away from the trapped ski-boat and into calmer water.
All rescued without injuries
The men were safely brought aboard the rescue craft and transported to shore, where paramedics confirmed that none had sustained injuries. The ski-boat remained lodged at the edge of the spillway at the time of reporting.
The NSRI described the operation as a high-risk rescue in unfamiliar terrain, emphasising how split-second decisions determined the outcome. The organisation reiterated its call for water safety awareness, especially around dams and fast-flowing waterways.