A kite-boarder was rescued at Strand Beach after he was spotted getting into difficulties on camera on Saturday afternoon (19 August).
According to Alan Meiklejohn, station commander for the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) in Gordon’s Bay, the duty crew was activated by the NSRI Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), which reported a kite-boarder appearing to be in difficulty in front of Die Poort at 15:28.
“The kite-boarder and his sail were in the water without his sail up, and it was growing increasingly evident that he was in difficulties and adrift,” Meiklejohn explained. “The person in difficulties had been noticed by EOC controllers monitoring the NSRI Strand Beach safety cameras. While rescue services responded, the situation continued to be monitored on the screens of the beach-safety cameras by NSRI controllers.”
The NSRI Gordon’s Bay duty crew responded from the NSRI rescue base and the NSRI rescue craft Spirit of Surfski was launched, while NSRI rescue swimmers and shore crew responded to the scene, Meikeljohn added. GBMed ambulance services were also alerted.
“A man on a paddle board had also gone towards the casualty to attempt to assist. On [rescuers] arrival at the scene, in strong northerly winds, the local adult man was found lying on the foil of his kite and being assisted by the unidentified paddler,” he said,
“The man was rescued onto the rescue craft and his foil was recovered. He was brought safely to shore and not injured. He required no further assistance. The paddler was commended for his assistance.”
The Strand Beach safety cameras continue to assist at being an early warning device aiding in bringing attention to rescue services of bathers and craft in distress along the beach front. The NSRI is reliant on donations and sponsorships, which enables it to do the work of saving and changing lives.
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Visit www.nsri.org.za for more details.
