David Rosenberg, NSRI Bakoven deputy station commander, said:At 18h50, Friday, 26 February, NSRI Bakoven duty crew were alerted to reports of a surfskier suspected to be overdue from a paddle on the Atlantic Seaboard.Investigations were initiated to determine the whereabouts of a 46 year old male, a Scottish citizen, who has been living in Johannesburg and Camps Bay, Cape Town, for many years.It appears that the man had gone paddling on a surfski and he may have launched during the afternoon at Bakoven.After failing to meet a scheduled appointment in the early evening the alarm was raised and during investigations by NSRI Bakoven, which were assisted by Camps Bay security and Police, indications were that the man had gone surf-skiing and he had failed to return.NSRI Bakoven launched a land search while NSRI Hout Bay and NSRI Table Bay launched 3 sea rescue craft to search the Atlantic Seaboard off-shore between Oudekraal and Table Bay.While an extensive sea search was underway no stone was left unturned to determine the whereabouts of the missing man.During investigations that were being conducted to rule out various possibilities all indications pointed to the man to most likely be missing at sea.An extensive sea search continued until after midnight and a sea search resumed at first light which included the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter that was deployed by WC Government Health EMS Metro Control to assist in the sea search and NSRI Bakoven launched a sea rescue craft to join the sea search from first light on Saturday morning.The body of the man was located by the Skymed rescue helicopter 4.5 nautical miles West of Bantry Point.An EMS rescue diver was deployed into the water from the rescue helicopter and the body of the man, who was attached to the surf-ski and adrift at sea at the time, was secured.The NSRI Bakoven sea rescue craft Rotarian Schipper rendezvoused at the discovery location.The body of the man, his surfski and the EMS rescue diver were at sea onto the sea rescue craft and brought to the NSRI Bakoven rescue station where the body was taken into the care of the SA Police Services and WC Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.Police have opened an inquest docket. No foul play is suspected and all indications are that this was a tragic accident at sea.Condolences are conveyed to family and friends of the deceased.NSRI are appealing to paddlers, boaters and sailboarders to download and use the NSRI RSA SafeTrx free cellphone application.
