Paddlers saved by Plett NSRI
At 07:44 on Friday April 28, NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew were activated following reports of four paddlers in difficulty at the Keurbooms River Mouth.
According to reports two double surf-ski’s, with two person’s on each surf-ski, had capsized in the river mouth. It was then reported that two paddlers, a male and a female, had made it to shore and two paddlers, two males, were missing.
NSRI Plettenberg Bay rescue swimmers and shore crew responded directly to the scene and while preparing to launch sea rescue craft it was confirmed by eye-witnesses that all four paddlers, a father and his son on one surf-ski and his daughter and a male friend on the second surf-ski, were accounted for and safe but only one surf-ski remained missing and one person was still swimming towards the shore but appearing to not be in any difficulty.
NSRI shore crew spotted the missing surf-ski in the surf-line.
Ross Badenhorst, NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty controller, said: “The sea rescue craft Free Runner was launched and the surf-ski was recovered from the surf and the paddler, a 50 year old local man, was given the surf-ski in the river mouth and he paddled on the surf-ski to shore safely. We then assisted him to get the other side of the river mouth where his fellow paddlers were.
Once all were safely ashore no further assistance was required and there were no injuries.
The paddle of the second surf-ski remains missing and a brief search by NSRI found no sign of the missing paddle.”
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Source: Knysna Plett Herald News