Jerome Simonis, NSRI Knysna station commander, said: At 15h20, Wednesday, 30 August, during the peak of the Spring high tide, NSRI Knysna duty crew were activated following eye-witness reports of a small canoe capsized with (believed to be) 1 adult male onboard at Ashmead Channel on Knysna Lagoon, between Cathy’s Park and Costa Sarda, about 200 to 300 meters off-shore.
NSRI Knysna rescue swimmers. SA National Parks (SAN Parks) rangers, the SA Police Services (SAPS), ER24 ambulance services, Knysna Fire and Rescue Services, WC Government Health EMS and the SAPS Water Policing and Dive Services responded.
The sea rescue craft Katherine was launched.
A local man, believed to be a shoreline angler, went to attempt to rescue the casualty in the water at the capsized canoe.
On NSRI rescue swimmers arriving on the scene they swam out and they rescued the Good Samaritan (who is believed to have attempted to rescue the canoeist).
He was brought to shore where assisted by SAN Parks rangers, he was brought to EMS paramedics where medical treatment commenced. He has been transported to hospital by EMS ambulance in a serious but stable condition.
A search continued for the 1 occupant of the canoe who is missing.
Indications suggest that there had only been one person on the canoe when it capsized.
NSRI rescue swimmers and Police divers, assisted by the emergency services, are continuing in a search for the as yet unidentified missing man.
The canoe remains submerged and Police divers have searched the wreck of the canoe under water but there remains no signs of the missing man.
This is an ongoing operation.
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