NSRI Durban and Simonstown resepctively rescued a couple on a Hobie cat and a paddler yesterday, 15 June.
Andre Fletcher, NSRI Durban deputy station commander said at 1.30 pm NSRI Durban volunteer duty crew were doing routine exercises on the NSRI sea rescue boats when the crew on Megan II found a Durban couple on a Hobie Cat about a nautical mile off-shore of Durban’s Port in some difficulty. Both were in the water and the Hobie Cat appeared to be semi-sinking.
“We offered to help them and they confirmed that the one hull of the Hobie-Cat was completely water logged,” Fletcher said.
The couple had been attempting to rectify the situation themselves and were about to raise the alarm when the NSRI boat suddenly appeared. Rescue swimmers were deployed in the sea that woman, Stephanie Hall, 38, was taken on board as she was suffering from hypothermia.
Her husband Brad, 39, stayed in the water to help recover his boat. While providing warming treatment to Stephanie the NSRI swimmers assisted Brad gather the Hobie-Cat sails.
The damage to the Hobie-Cat was assessed and an attempt was made to re-float the waterlogged hull. The NSRI deep deep-sea rescue craft Eikos Rescuer was summoned to assist in the rescue operation. An additional rescue swimmer from the bigger rescue boat was deployed into the water to assist in the recovery of the Hobie-Cat.
“The Hobie-Cat was righted and we then took up a tow-line to the Hobie-Cat and towed the craft to Vetch’s beach where the Hobie-Cat was recovered,” Fletcher recounted. “The hull drained of water significantly while under tow.”
Stephanie was transported to the NSRI base where treatment for hypothermia continued and she was then released. She was transported by road by NSRI crew to Vetch’s Beach where she was reunited with her husband.”
Later yesterday in Simonstown at 4.43 pm volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority following eye-witness reports of a paddler in difficulty off-shore of Glencairn, between Fish Hoek and Simonstown.
Darren Zimmerman, NSRI Simonstown station commander, said a paddler on a single surf-ski fell out of his paddle board and couldn’t get back in. His brother and a friend, in a double surf-ski at the same location and not in difficulty themselves were unable to assist their fellow paddler owing to the sea swell.
Zimmerman responded directly to the scene while other duty crew prepared to launch the sea rescue craft. “On arrival I noticed an SA Navy harbour patrol boat, a Namacurra, was in the vicinity on a routine patrol. I radioed to alert them of the paddler in trouble,” he said.
The Navy harbour patrol boat diverted its course to go to the paddler’s aid and when they reached him they took him on board the navy vessel and then to the Simonstown sea rescue base. The paddler, 20 year-old Matthew Rigby from Table View, was treated for severe hypothermia. After he responded well to treatment he was released, requiring no further assistance.
“His brother and friend on the double paddle board returned safely to shore without assistance,” Zimmerman added.
(edited)
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