Paddler assisted off Glencairn

Darren Zimmerman, NSRI Simonstown station commander, said: 'At 16h43 (Saturday, 15th June) NSRI Simonstown volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority following eye-witness reports of a paddler in difficulty off-shore of Glencairn, between Fish Hoek and Simonstown.'A paddler on a single surf-ski had fallen out of his paddle board and couldn't get back in. His brother and a friend, in a double surf-ski, were at the same location and although not in difficulty themselves they were not in a position in the sea swell to assist their fellow paddler.'I responded directly to the scene while our duty crew prepared to launch our sea rescue craft.'On my arrival on-scene I noticed an SA Navy harbour patrol boat (known as a Namacurra) was in the vicinity on a routine patrol and I radioed them to alert them of the paddler in trouble.'The Navy harbour patrol boat diverted to go to the paddlers aid and on their arrival they took the paddler and his board onto their Navy boat and brought him to our sea rescue base in Simonstown where we treated the man, 20 year old Matthew Rigby, from Table View, for severe hypothermia and after he responded well to treatment he was released requiring no further assistance.'His brother and the friend, on the double paddle board, got safely to shore without assistance.' map image: www.routes.co.za