Darren Zimmerman, NSRI Simons Town station commander, said: At 15h56, Saturday, 12 September, NSRI Simons Town duty crew were activated following reports to NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) of 2 paddlers well overdue on a double surf-ski at Fish Hoek Beach during a Millers to Fish Hoek down wind paddle.
Fellow paddlers reported that the couple, from St Francis Bay, experienced paddlers, were on a downwind paddle and had noted that they had appeared to been struggling already early into the paddle, starting from Millers Point.
Sea conditions were strong South Easterly winds, 35 gusting to40 knots, in 1.5 to 2 meter sea swells.
NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) indicated that the paddlers, on a double surf-ski, had last been been monitored between Millers Point and Roman Rock Lighthouse but no NSRI SafeTrx emergency had been alerted.
NSRI coast watchers were alerted to look out.
NSRI rescue swimmers were dispatched to Whale Watchers Point while our NSRI duty crew responded to our NSRI Simons Town station 10 rescue base where the NSRI rescue craft Donna Nicholas and Jack&Irene were launched.
The casualties SafeTrx app emergency had not been activated by the casualties but all indications pointed to them being well overdue and most likely in distress with fellow paddlers indicating that they had appeared to be struggling in the prevailing sea conditions when last seen early into their paddle.
On NSRI rescue craft reaching their last estimated position a search commenced in the direction North of Roman Rock Lighthouse and in the direction of Fish Hoek Beach.
Crew searching from the shoreline could not spot the casualties in the rough seas.
During a sweeping line search, about 20 minutes into a sea search and rescue operation, in rough sea conditions, our rescue craft spotted the 2 paddlers, the male seated and the female in the water holding onto the back of the surf-ski.
Reaching them offshore of Glencairn 2 NSRI rescue swimmers were deployed into the water from our NSRI RHIB rescue craft securing both casualties, adult friends, who were rescued onto the NSRI rescue craft and their double surf-ski was recovered.
Medical treatment was immediately commenced for severe hypothermia and CMR (Cape Medical Response) were activated to respond to the NSRI Simons Town rescue base.
Family and friends were informed that both paddlers were safe.
On arrival at our NSRI rescue base CMR paramedics continued with medical treatment at our NSRI rescue base.
It was determined that they had been in the water, exhausted and hypothermic, while regularly attempting to board their craft, for close to 2 hours.
Following extensive medical care by CMR paramedics to both patients at our NSRI rescue base they were released into the care of family.
The casualty paddler, with the NSRI SafeTrx loaded onto his phone, had not been able to alert to their distress when they had capsized and he had later lost his phone overboard. They had drifted North past Roman Rock Lighthouse in the direction of Gelencairn.
NSRI commend the fellow paddlers for raising the alarm.
The swift response of NSRI Simons Town crew and the extensive search and rescue operation in trying conditions is commended.
