Man overboard - Kowie River Mouth. 2 paddlers caught in a rip current - Kenton-On-Sea

NSRI Port Alfred duty crew were activated following reports of a man fallen overboard a ski-boat while exiting out to sea through the Kowie River Mouth.

PORT ALFRED:

Gerrit Cloete, NSRI Port Alfred duty coxswain, said:

The sea rescue craft Rescue 11 Alpha was launched and our NSRI rescue vehicle responded to East Beach.

On arrival on the scene we found that the local skipper of the vessel was safely ashore at East Beach and he was not injured.

The skipper had fallen out of the ski-boat when a wave washed over the boat.

Local surfers who saw the man in the water went to his aid and they were able to rescue him safely to shore at East Beach.

The crewman onboard the boat, from Makanda, who has never helmed a boat, took over at the wheel of the boat and he steered the boat to beyond the breaker line and to a safe distance further out to sea.

Our NSRI rescue craft arrived at the boat. An NSRI rescue swimmer was transferred onboard and the casualty boat and man was transferred onto our sea rescue craft.

He was brought to shore safely and he was reunited with the skipper.

Our NSRI crewman brought the casualty craft safely in through the Kowie River Mouth.

NSRI commend the crewman who was able to take the helm of the boat and steer the boat to safety out at sea.

NSRI commend the surfers who rescued the skipper.

KENTON-ON-SEA:

Keryn van der Walt, NSRI Port Alfred duty coxswain, said:

At 08h36, Friday, 29 April, NSRI Port Alfred duty crew were activated following a call from a private security company in Kenton-On-Sea reporting 2 men appearing to be in difficulty beyond the breakers about 300 meters out to sea.

Security officers had noticed the 2 men, who appeared to be swimming, waving towards the shore, and they raised the alarm.

NSRI rescue swimmers responded in their private vehicles and our NSRI rescue vehicle responded towing an NSRI rescue craft.

Prior to arriving on the scene the security officers reported that both men and their kayak had made it safely to the shore.

Our NSRI rescue swimmers continued to the scene where on arrival they found both men were safe and not injured.

It appears that they had capsized and were caught in a rip current. They had hung onto their floating kayak for over an hour before finally escaping the rip current and getting to shore.

NSRI commend the security officers, who raised the alarm, for their vigilance.

NSRI are appealing to paddlers to download and use the NSRI RSA SafeTrx app on a cellphone. Have safety equipment, red distress flares, a referee whistle and fully charged cellphone in a water tight plastic sleeve and always wear a properly fitting life-jacket.