Rowan Marais, NSRI Melkbosstrand station commander, said: At 15h13, Tuesday, 16 June, NSRI Melkbosstrand duty crew were activated following multiple eyewitness reports to NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) of a man, paddling on a windsurf board, appearing to be in distress offshore of Ons Huisie restaurant, Bloubergstrand.
NSRI rescue swimmers responded directly to the scene while our NSRI Melkbosstrand crew responded to our NSRI Melkbosstrand station 18 rescue base where the NSRI rescue craft West Coast Relief was launched.
BBSL (Big Bay Surf Lifesaving) were activated and lifeguards responded directly to the scene while BBSL launched their lifeguard rescue craft.
The CoCT (City of Cape Town) water rescue network was activated. Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, Community Medics, Cape Town DRM (Disaster Risk Management), WC Government Health EMS and the SA Police Services were activated and responded.
The West Coast coast watchers network was alerted.
While responding to the scene eyewitness reports indicated that the male paddler could no longer be observed from the shoreline and he was missing.
EMS Metro Control placed the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter on alert while dispatching an EMS rescue squad drone unit.
Police WPDS (Water Policing and Diving Services) were alerted.
On arrival on the scene a sea and shoreline search commenced for the missing man.
During the search operation the man was located in between the rocks at Kids Rock. An NSRI rescue swimmer was deployed from the rescue craft reaching the man and securing him at Kids Rock and rescuing the man safely to the NSRI rescue craft.
The man, in a serious condition, hypothermic, was brought to shore at Small Bay where paramedics treated the man for hypothermia and he was transported to hospital by EMS ambulance in a stable condition where in the care of doctors and nurses he is expected to make a full recovery.
It appears that the 43 year old Limpopo man, reported to be living in the area of Bloubergstrand, had been paddling on a windsurfing board when he got into difficulties.
The windsurfing board has been recovered.
NSRI commend the swift response and cooperation of all emergency services involved in this operation that contributed to the man’s life being saved.
