Davide del Fante, NSRI Table Bay duty controller said: An East London adult man was safely rescued off-shore of Bantry Bay on Saturday, 11 March.
The tourist from the Eastern Cape had entered reasonably rough seas from Bantry Bay to go for a swim behind the wave line at Bantry Bay when a set of waves appear to have developed further out to sea in his path causing him to get into difficulty.
Eye-witnesses raised the alarm.
NSRI Table Bay, NSRI Bakoven and the City of Cape Town (CoCT) water rescue network were activated at 09h24.
The NSRI Table Bay rescue craft, at sea at the time, diverted to respond while NSRI rescue swimmers, the NSRI Table Bay rescue vehicle and CoCT Law Enforcement officers responded.
On arrival on the scene shore rescue controllers confirmed that the man appeared to be okay, able to swim and stay afloat, but he was in some difficulties and threatened by rough sea conditions and the incoming wave sets.
At that stage the NSRI rescue craft were 3 minutes from arriving on the scene.
An NSRI rescue swimmer launched on a rescue board and was nearing the man when the rescue craft arrived and negotiated the incoming wave sets to reach the man.
He was taken onboard the rescue craft.
The rescue craft also collected the NSRI rescue swimmer and dropped him off closer to shore to paddle back to shore on the rescue board.
The casualty was provided a blanket to rewarm from hypothermia.
The casualty was brought to the NSRI Table Bay rescue station and he was collected by friends who brought his clothes and he required no further assistance.
