2 Paddlers rescued

At 17h30 on Friday the 20th February, NSRI Port Elizabeth duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) following an urgent request for assistance from a paddler reporting his two friends, on a double fishing kayak, to be capsized and in difficulty off Pollock Beach, between Pollock Beach and the Bell Buoy in Nelson Mandela Bay.The paddler reported that he was on a surfski and was staying with his two friends who had capsized and were unable to get back onto their kayak.NSRI Port Elizabeth duty crew launched EIKOS RESCUER IV and following a brief search the paddlers were found clinging to their double kayak.On arrival on-scene both men were rescued onto the sea rescue craft and their kayak was recovered. Their friend, who had remained with them until help arrived, paddled ashore.Both men, locals Andrew Stewart, 46, and Dave Pattle, 40, were treated for mild hypothermia and brought to shore, where once warmed up, required no further assistance.It appears that they had launched on the kayak accompanied by a cameraman, on a surfski, to apparently film a protest of a proposed fish farm but got into difficulty when their kayak was swamped and capsized. Their cameraman raised the alarm.TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONESMS 32287 with your name and a message of support for our Sea Rescue crew.