At 17h38 on Monday the 23rd of February, NSRI Bakoven duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) following an eye-witness at Bakoven reporting a woman in difficulty on a SUP (Stand-Up Paddle Board) and according to the eye-witness she was about 800 meters off-shore and fast being blown out to sea.
Mark Thompson, NSRI Bakoven duty coxswain, said: 'Justin Strong attempted to swim after her but was unable to reach her and returned to shore.'
'Bakoven duty crew launched the sea rescue craft ROTARIAN SCHIPPER and the Red Cross AMS Skymed rescue helicopter, WC Government Health EMS, Community Medics and ER24 ambulance services responded.
'Eye-witnesses then confirmed that Justin Strong, this time on a surfboard, had launched from Bakoven again to go to her rescue but was also unable to reach her and he got back to shore unharmed.
'On the arrival on-scene of the sea rescue craft and following a brief search, Daniella Hasson, 22, from Fresnaye, was found approximately a kilometre off Beta Beach, Bakoven, sitting on her SUP, being blown further out to sea, waving her paddle to attract the attention of the sea rescue crew.
'She was lifted onto the sea rescue craft, her SUP was recovered, and she was brought to the sea rescue station at Bakoven where paramedics treated her for mild hypothermia and she required no further medical attention.
'It appears that Miss Hasson, a novice stand up paddle boarder, wanted to paddle around a point to Barley Bay, close to Bakoven, but was swept out to sea by a strong wind. She was not wearing a life jacket so she sat down on the board and hung on until rescuers arrived.”
-ENDS-
TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE
SMS 32287 with your name and a message of support for our Sea Rescue crew. (SMS charged at R1)
The rescue crew of Alex Albert, Bernard Schaefer, Danielle and her Dad Phillippe Hasson, Mark Thompson (Coxswain) and Luke van Riet.
