Cape Town – The search continued on Monday for a paddle skier who went missing at sea in Kalk Bay.
A 32-year-old man fell off a paddle ski about 30 metres offshore in front of the Harbour House Restaurant on Sunday afternoon before disappearing under water, leading to members of the public raising the alarm.
When the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) arrived at the scene, two bystanders had volunteered to enter the water to try to rescue the man, who is believed to reside in Kalk Bay. Police have opened an investigation.
“An extensive sea and shoreline search commenced. A police dive search was activated and they conducted scuba dive search effort. But there remains no sign of the missing man,” said the NSRI’s Craig Lambinon.
’’At 14h20, Sunday, 26 September, NSRI Simon's Town duty crew, NSRI Strandfontein duty crew and the City of Cape Town (CoCT) Water Rescue Network were activated following multiple eye-witness reports of a drowning in progress at Kalk Bay, in front of the Harbour House Restaurant,’’ Darren Zimmerman, the NSRI Simon’s Town station commander, said in a statement on Sunday.
’’The NSRI Simon's Town sea rescue craft Spirit of Surfski II, the NSRI Strandfontein sea rescue craft Film Industry Fund Rescuer One and Rescue 16 Alpha were launched. NSRI rescue vehicles from NSRI Simon's Town and NSRI Strandfontein, CMR (Cape Medical Response), the SA Police Services, CoCT Law Enforcement, WC Government Health EMS, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services and the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter responded.
’’On arrival on the scene we found two bystanders in the water, one armed with an NSRI pink rescue buoy, who had both volunteered to enter the water to try to rescue a 32-year-old male, who had fallen off a paddle-ski about 30 meters off-shore before disappearing under water, while public members raised the alarm.
’’An extensive air, sea and shoreline search commenced, which included NSRI rescue swimmers free dive sweeping line search efforts, but despite the extensive search no sign of the missing man was found.
’’A Police Dive Unit was activated and NSRI Simon's Town dispatched the sea rescue craft Donna Nicholas which was used to support the Police divers on the scene.
’’Police divers conducted scuba dive search efforts but there remains no sign of the missing man. Police divers, supported by Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services rescue divers, will continue in an ongoing search and recovery operation.
’’While family of the missing man have not been located, it is believed that he resides in Kalk Bay and he is known to locals. Police have opened an investigation.’’
IOL