At 08h35 on Sunday, 4 January, NSRI Shelly Beach duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from two men on sea kayaks, approximately half a nautical mile offshore between Oslo Beach and Shelly Beach. One sea kayak was reported to be taking on water, with the second sea kayak assisting.
Glen Preston, NSRI Shelly Beach Station Commander, said:
NSRI crew responded to the NSRI Shelly Beach Station 20 rescue base, where the NSRI rescue craft Freemasons Way was launched.
The rescue craft rendezvoused with the kayakers approximately 800 metres offshore, north of Shelly Beach. On arrival, NSRI found one man holding onto his friend’s sea kayak while his own, heavily laden with water, drifted nearby.
The casualty was taken aboard the NSRI rescue craft, and his kayak was recovered and drained of water.
The second kayaker paddled safely to shore.
NSRI then brought the casualty man and his sea kayak safely to the beach without incident.
Once both adult men from Port Shepstone were safely ashore, they arranged transport back to Umtentweni, where they had launched earlier that day.
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