Cape Town - Police and sea rescue officials were left stumped on Tuesday when they discovered a man about one nautical mile off-shore of the Mouille Point Lighthouse, who had taken to sea in a swimming pool inflatable dinghy and a “garden rake” as an oar, the National Sea Rescue Institute said.
NSRI spokesman Craig Lambinon said the Bakover station crew had been alerted by the Transnet National Ports Authority and had been asked to investigate reports of a lone paddler off shore who, according to eye-witnesses, appeared to be acting suspiciously and may be in some kind of difficulty. The call came in at around 6.40pm on Tuesday.
NSRI controllers attempting to identify the type of craft being described by the witnesses were left a bit confused by the descriptions of a “tiny craft”, and a “type of rowing oar”, Lambinon said.
“And then the sightseeing charter boat from the Waterfront, AMEERA, who reported to the TNPA that they had come across the paddler who appeared to them to be refusing to be assisted.
“According to the crew of AMEERA he was ‘not fit or equipped to be at sea’. The TNPA decided to put out a full-scale activation to both NSRI Bakoven and to the Police Sea Borderline Unit to go to the scene to investigate and to assist.
“On arrival on the scene NSRI Bakoven found that a private boat from Oceana Power Boat Club had also come across the paddler and they had taken him ‘under tow’, towing him safely to OPBC slipway where they were met by bemused police and NSRI Bakoven rescuers,” Lambinon added.
Police questioned the man but he appeared to be unable to answer questions and for his own safety police have taken him away for questioning, he said.
It is unknown where the man is from although in the few words he spoke to police he mentioned the word Simonstown.
“It has been suggested that he may have been a stowaway who may have jumped ship in Table Bay or perhaps he’s a gardener just out for an evening paddle, but NSRI have not been notified by police if they have managed to get to the bottom of the mystery,” Lambinon added.
A photograph taken by the NSRI shows the mystery paddler and if anyone can help in identifying the man, please contact the South African Police Service.
ANA