Man rescued after being swept out to sea

Johnathan Bakker, NSRI Kommetjie deputy station commander, said:At 09h32, Monday, 15 February, NSRI Kommetjie duty crew were activated following reports from an NSRI Kommetjie coastwatcher who had come across a distressed lady on Noordhoek Beach, at The Dunes, who informed her that her boyfriend had entered the surf and she had lost sight of him.Our coastwatcher scoured the ocean to try to spot the man in the water while also raising the alarm.No sign of the man could be seen in the water.Our duty crew responded to our sea rescue base and the sea rescue craft Spirit of the Vines was launched.NSRI rescue swimmers, CoCT (City of Cape Town) Fire and Rescue Services and CMR (Cape Medical Response) responded to the scene.The EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter was activated.Our sea rescue craft arrived on the scene and located the man, age 38, from Glencairn, who was floating in the water at the backline breakers and he was rescued onto our sea rescue craft.He was semi-conscious and hypothermic.He was brought to the Kommetjie slipway where paramedics treated him for hypothermia and for non-fatal drowning symptoms.A Netcare 911 helicopter was activated and the patient was airlifted to hospital in a serious but stable condition.It appears that he had been caught in rip currents while swimming.The swift response of the Kommetjie duty crew is commended.