Bruce Davidson, NSRI Bakoven duty coxswain said: “On 22 March at 17h17 NSRI Bakoven, the Metro Ambulance and Rescue Services and the Metro Red Cross AMS helicopter were activated following a request for “back-up” from surf-ski paddler Allan Storey, 41, from Cape Town CBD, reporting that he was witnessing three paddlers in difficulty, capsized and being blown out to sea, approximately 800 metres off-shore, in the vicinity of the Mouille Point Lighthouse.
[ad#Google Adsense 125×125 Blog Post]”NSRI Bakoven launched their rescue craft Spirit of Rotary – Table Bay and a Metro Rescue vehicle, the Metro Red Cross AMS helicopter, NSRI paramedics and NSRI rescue swimmers responded.
“Allan, an experienced surf-ski paddler, had informed the Transnet National Ports Authority (on the sea rescue emergency phone) that he was launching his own surf-ski from the Three Anchor Bay slip-way to go to the assistance of the three casualty paddlers but he requested urgent back-up from the NSRI as he knew that the sea conditions were unfavourable for the task he was embarking on!
“When Allan arrived at the three casualty paddlers, in 45 knot gusting South Easterly winds and rough choppy 1.5 metre swells, he assisted them to stay with their craft and he encouraged them and informing them that the NSRI were well on their way.
“At the same time the 67 foot Princess Motor Yacht Intrepid, skippered by owner Howard Godfrey (who is the Honorary Life Governor of the NSRI and an ex NSRI Table Bay volunteer), with a crew of serving and past NSRI volunteers and guests on-board, happened to be in the vicinity (taking guests on a leisure cruise) and Howard noticed the paddlers in the water and immediately recognising that they were in difficulty he went to their aid and on arriving on-scene the three casualties and Allan Storey were taken on-board the Intreped.
“NSRI Bakoven’s rescue craft then arrived on-scene together with a number of unidentified private vessels and the casualties paddle craft were recovered from the water.
“The 3 casualties, father and daughter John and Sarah Whitehead, 61 and 24, from Kenilworth, who were on a double sea-kayak, and their friend Jacqui Koep, 41, from Observatory, were treated for hypothermia by the crew of Intrepid, and brought to the Cape Grace moorings where they were further assessed by NSRI paramedics and released requiring no further assistance.
“Allan Storey is commended for his gallant efforts in going to the assistance of the 3 paddlers. Allan commented that he had gone to Three Anchor Bay to launch his surf-ski to go for a paddle but had decided against it as sea conditions were not favourable for a paddle when he noticed the three paddlers in trouble on the water and committed himself to going to their assistance.”
