Boat capsizes

At 13h35 (Sunday, 03rd October) NSRI Melkbosstrand crew were activated following reports from Blouberg lifeguards of a dragon boat outrigger canoe capsized in the vicinity of the Seli 1 wreck, off-shore of Table View, with 6 people reported to be in the water.Our NSRI Melkbosstrand volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched sea rescue craft and our sea rescue vehicle and Blouberg Surf Lifesaving responded. WC Government Health EMS and the Red Cross AMS Skymed rescue helicopter were placed on alert.On arrival on-scene, in a strong South Easterly wind and choppy seas, we found all 6 people, 1 female and 5 males, aged in their 30's and early 40's, all reportedly from Table View, coming onto the beach after managing to swim to shore after their dragon boat outrigger canoe capsized during a downwind paddle from Milnerton to Big Bay, Bloubergstrand.They were all treated for hypothermia on the scene by NSRI but they did not require to go to hospital and after their boat was recovered by NSRI on the beach they required no further assistance. File image by Anthony Allen