How Quick Thinking and Backup Gear Led to a Smooth Rescue

When a local efoiler recently ran into trouble off Mouille Point, his quick thinking made all the difference. The incident underscores how carrying safety equipment and knowing how to use simple digital tools, like the NSRI’s SafeTRX app, can drastically improve rescue outcomes for water users.

The man was out foiling in perfect conditions when his battery drained faster than expected, leaving him stranded about two kilometres offshore. “Initially I thought I’ll try to swim to shore,” he says, “but I realised I would have to abandon my efoil, possibly creating a hazard for shipping.” So instead, he reached for his cellphone, safely stored around his neck in a waterproof pouch, and sent his GPS location to the NSRI Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) via WhatsApp.

The Call That Triggered a Fast Rescue

The EOC manager on duty, Rizia Khan, immediately coordinated the response. “Using tools like SafeTRX or similar tracking apps can make a critical difference in an emergency,” she said.

“It’s also important that users understand how simple the app can be: once your profile is set up, it’s just a matter of logging your trip or enabling tracking. In this case, the positioning detail helped us respond swiftly with complete accuracy.”

Although he had SafeTRX installed, the efoiler hadn’t logged his trip because he thought it required him to fill in departure and arrival details. In fact, SafeTRX has a Track Only feature that allows users to start recording without those details, ideal for spontaneous outings. He later noted that he would have used Track Only if he’d known about it.

Coordinates That Guided the Team

Within minutes of his WhatsApp message, the Station 3 Table Bay crew, led by coxswain Davide Del Fante, were en route. “The fact that the call came directly from the casualty meant we knew it was confirmed, not second-hand,” Davide says. “We sent the location to our coast watchers, who were able to get eyes on him straight away. He wouldn’t have known it at the time, but we had visual on him long before he was picked up by the boat.”

For the rescue team, accurate positioning data is invaluable. “Having an exact position makes things very easy for us,” Davide says. “Even if it turns into a search, when we have a last known position, our search area is much more precise.”

Davide also commended the man for carrying all the necessary safety equipment – phone, flares, and a life jacket. “Had he not, the outcome could have been very different,” he says.

Calm Under Pressure

As the rescue boat closed in, Rizia watched its progress via the Blouberg Beach safety camera system. The live feed confirmed that the craft was moving steadily toward the coordinates received. Moments later, the efoiler was safely aboard, unharmed and surprisingly calm. He even managed to reschedule a business meeting while waiting. “I was not really stressed,” he said. “We basically rescheduled a meeting that I was going to be late for.”

Alongside his cellphone, he also carried pencil flares – stored in his efoil board’s battery compartment – in case he found himself out of cell signal range. Though he didn’t need them, this backup proved smart planning. “Do exactly what I did,” he advises other foilers and kitesurfers, “then you are covered both ways.”

Lessons for All Ocean Users

This rescue is a timely reminder that even on calm days, unexpected problems can occur. A flat battery, shifting winds, or gear failure can leave anyone stranded. Having a waterproof way to keep your cellphone and a backup signalling device can mean the difference between hours of drifting and a swift pickup.

For water sports enthusiasts, SafeTRX remains the simplest and most effective way to keep NSRI connected to you. By logging a trip or activating Track Only, the app shares your live location with NSRI. If you activate its Emergency Distress feature, rescuers receive your details, vessel type, and exact position, instantly narrowing response time and search range.

Whether you foil, kitesurf, or paddle, these precautions ensure that when things go wrong, help is already on its way.

Learn more and download the SafeTRX app.