Capsized canoe, Kommetjie and flares off Hout Bay:

KOMMETJIE:

At 14h11, Monday, 30th May, NSRI Kommetjie duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) following reports of a canoe capsized in the channel at the Kommetjie slip way.NSRI Kommetjie launched the sea rescue craft Loved 1's 24:. and on arrival on the scene found that a couple, believed to be in their 20's (a local man and a woman from Johannesburg) had launched the small blow up canoe to paddle when they were capsized by a wave and local surfers had responded to assist. They had righted the canoe and helped both back into it.They were not injured and NSRI Kommetjie escorted them to shore without incident.HOUT BAY:At 20h06, Monday, 30th May, NSRI Kommetjie and NSRI Hout Bay duty crews were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority following numerous eye-witness reports of two red distress flares spotted out to sea off Hout Bay, between Chapmans Peak and The Sentinel.NSRI Kommetjie launched the sea rescue craft Spirit of the Vines and NSRI Hout Bay launched the sea rescue craft Nadine Gordimer and Albie Matthews.NSRI spotters were stationed on Chapmans Peak to act as a look out.Boat slipways were investigated for any signs of vehicles and trailers abandoned that may indicate paddlers or boaters overdue.Despite an extensive sea and shoreline search, which included the activation of illuminating flares to assist in a search, no sign of any persons or boats in distress could be found and with no reports of anyone overdue or missing the search was suspended at 22h30 and the situation will continue to be monitored.The source and the reasons for the red distress flare activation remains a mystery.

File picture of the Hout Bay rescue boat Albie Matthews.