On Monday 1 March at 17h38 NSRI Bakoven and the Metro Red Cross AMS helicopter were activated following reports of two surf-skiers in difficulty 1 nautical mile off Mouille Point lighthouse.

NSRI Bakoven launched their rescue craft Spirit of Rotary – Table Bay, the Metro Red Cross AMS helicopter responded, NSRI rescue vehicles and the Metro Ambulance and Rescue Services responded.

Johnny Albert, NSRI Bakoven duty coxswain, said that the 2 surf-skiers, friends from the United Kingdom, one from Northern Scotland and the other from London, had launched from the Three Anchor Bay slip-way into gusting 40 knot off-shore winds but the less experienced surf-skier, the man from London, had quickly capsized his craft and his friend was trying to assist him to get back on his surf-ski, without success, while the 2 men were being blown out to sea. They were not wearing life-jackets.

2 passing surf-skiers attempted to assist them but faced getting into difficulties themselves and had to abandon their attempts.

A fishing trawler was diverted to the scene by the Transnet National Ports Authority, but, being too large to render a rescue themselves they stood-by on-scene to provide a shelter to the 2 surf-skiers from the wind while rescue resources responded to the scene.

A smaller fishing boat that happened to be passing by at the time took both men and one of their surf-ski’s on-board their vessel and on the arrival of the NSRI rescue craft both men were transferred onto the rescue craft and brought in to the Three Anchor Bay slip-way where they were treated for mild hypothermia and released requiring no further assistance.

One of the surf-ski’s was lost to the sea and it is expected to wash ashore.