Kobus Meyer, NSRI Melkbosstrand duty coxswain, said; “At 18h18 NSRI Melkbosstrand volunteers were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority following eye-witness reports of two kite-surfers suspected to be in difficulty approximately 2 nautical miles North of the Sely 1 wreck, off-shore of Bloubergstrand Beach.
NSRI Melkbosstrand volunteers responded to the scene using their private vehicles, our NSRI Melkbosstrand 4×4 rescue vehicle was dispatched and our NSRI duty crew prepared to launch our rescue craft Spirit of the Vines.
Sea conditions are rough with a 1 to 2 meter swell and a 25 knot South Easterly wind.
On sea rescues arrival on-scene it was confirmed that both of the kite-surfers were safely ashore and we treated a 24 year old male kite-surfer, from Hout Bay, suffering from hypothermia, and following treatment the man was released from our care requiring no further assistance.
According to reports from the men, a father and son, both from Hout Bay, aged 57 and 24 respectively, they were kite-surfing in the vicinity of the Sely 1 wreck when the son was unable to get his kite airborne and the father went to his aid. Both men reported to be in the water for quite some time drifting leading eye-witnesses on the beachfront to raise the alarm.
Prior to NSRI’s arrival on-scene a kite-board instructor, Julian Mateus, (who was kite-boarding in the same vicinity at the time) went to their aid after noticing the two men appearing to be in difficulties.
On Julian’s arrival at their side the father was able to get to shore safely without any assistance and Julian assisted the son to get to shore and both of their kites and boards were recovered.
The men were already on the shore when our sea rescue team arrived on-scene and the son was treated by our NSRI medics for hypothermia before being released.”
NSRI are urging paddlers, kite-boarders and surfers to take care as winter approaches – sea conditions are now progressively more rough than they are during the summer months and obviously nightfall approaches a lot faster.
