Friday, 26th December. Paddle-skier found safe, Pringle Bay. 2 incidents, Port Edward. Missing man, East London. Man treated for Asthma, Melkbosstrand. Fisherman fractured ribs in rough seas, St Francis Bay:
UPDATE 2: PRINGLE BAY:
A paddle-skier who was suspected to be missing at Pringle Bay on Saturday, 20th December, has come forward after friends of his noticed a picture of his paddle-ski and the story on the NSRI web site.
The man says that he had got onto a double sea-kayak at sea in Pringle Bay and he and friends were towing his paddle ski when the tow-line broke and his paddle-ski got washed away.
He reportedly told some people on the beach that he had lost his paddle-ski at sea before going home
He only realised on Christmas Day that a search had been conducted for him when friends noticed the story on the NSRI web site and he called NSRI and apologised for not alerting authorities that he had lost his paddle-ski at sea on that day.
NSRI URGE PADDLERS TO STENCIL A NAME AND CONTACT PHONE NUMBER ON THEIR BOATS. IF YOU ABANDON A BOAT or SKI AT SEA ALERT NSRI.
PORT EDWARD:
At 11h50, on Monday, 22nd December, NSRI Port Edward towed a jet-skier safely to shore without incident after the 45 year old Durban man's jet ski suffered motor failure 3 nautical miles off Port Edward.
At 11h30, on Tuesday, 23rd December, NSRI Port Edward duty crew responded to TO Strand, near Port Edward, where three lifeguards had gone after a 34 year old man, from Gauteng, who was being swept out to sea by rip currents.
The lifeguards had reached the man and secured him but strong rip currents prevented them from getting the man back to the beach.
NSRI Port Edward launched their DISCOVERY rescue runner and assisted the lifeguards to get the man safely to shore without incident.
KNYSNA:
At 07h56, Friday, 26th December, NSRI Knysna duty crew responded to round up an unmanned ski-boat that had broken her moorings at Knysna Lagoon and was being swept away at Fountain Point in the Knysna Heads.
NSRI Knysna launched the sea rescue craft JAYTEE III and took the boat under tow safely to her berthing without incident.
MELKBOSSTRAND:
At 10h30, Friday, 26th December, NSRI Melkbosstrand treated an adult male suffering asthma at Melkbosstrand Beach.
The man was stabilised and has been transported to hospital in a stable condition by WC Government Health EMS ambulance for further treatment.
ST FRANCIS BAY:
At 10h00, Friday, 26th December, NSRI St Francis Bay duty crew responded to rendezvous with the Chokka Fishing Boat CABAMBA, just off-shore of the Port of St Francis Bay, to assist a fisherman suffering rib fractures.
While at fishing grounds off Tsitsikama, near Plettenberg Bay, the Chokka Fishing boat experienced rough seas causing the 25 year old fisherman to fall out of his bunk bed and fracturing ribs.
The injured man was brought to shore and Private Care ambulance services have transported the man to hospital in a stable condition.
EAST LONDON:
At 17h00, Thursday, 25th December, NSRI East London duty crew, Buffalo City Metro Municipality (BCMM) Fire and Rescue Services, EC Government Health EMS and the EMS rescue helicopter responded to Eastern Beach to join BCMM Lifeguards searching for an adult male had disappeared under water after being swept out to sea by rip currents.
NSRI East London launched two sea rescue craft and BCMM Fire and Rescue Services launched a rescue rigid inflatable boat.
Despite an extensive air, sea and shore search no sign of the man has been found.
Police have opened an investigation and a Police Dive Unit has been alerted.
-ENDS-
Spirit of Rotary East London II
