Edited by Kouga Chronicle: Concerned beach goers alerted the NSRI Station 37 Jeffreys Bay station that an individual paddle board rider appeared to be offshore, struggling to make headway in the waves off the Point.
The NBay NSRI was activated, and Rescue 37 Alpha (4.5m JetRIB) was launched with a coxswain and crew, while 37 Mobile was dispatched to the shoreline to maintain visual contact.
Upon arrival, the land-based crew confirmed the paddleboarder had moved behind the surf line toward the Albatross break. Rescue 37 Alpha stopped the individual just behind the surf.
He was briefly assessed but declined further assistance, and he opted to return to shore independently. The crew remained on-site to monitor his progress until he safely reached the beach. Once it was confirmed that no further aid was required, all assets stood down.
The NSR says it commends the members of the public for their alertness. “In a rescue environment, early notification is critical. We would always rather be launched and find a situation under control than be called too late.”
The NSRI reminds one of ‘Preparedness’ with NSRI SafeTrax
“For all paddlers, surfers, and water users, we strongly recommend using the NSRI SafeTrax app. This free tool allows you to log your planned route and estimated time of return. If you do not ‘close’ your trip by the set time, the app alerts the NSRI, providing us with your last known GPS coordinates. This significantly reduces search times and helps us reach you faster in an emergency.
The NSRI emergency line is open 24/7/365: 079 916 0390.
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