With fading light, the two SUPs seemed to abandon their originally intended direction (Knysna) and turned around and attempted to head back towards Buffel’s Bay. They occasionally sat down on their SUPs.
On arrival on-scene, the NSRI found the two men, a 32-year old Johannesburg man and a 34-year-old man of Sedgefield, to be tired and with limited options. They had originally launched their SUPs from Buffel’s Bay and intended to go to Knysna. However, with the fading light and the two men becoming tired, they realised that whether they decided to continue to Knysna or return to Buffel’s Bay, they would reach their destination after dark and exhausted.
They only had on their baggy shorts, a lighter and cigarettes with them.
They could not head directly to shore from their position, since there was a rocky shore front in a 2m shore break swell, which posed real risks.
NSRI took both the men and their SUPs onto the sea rescue craft and took them both to Knysna without incident. Once safely in Knysna they required no further assistance.
Earlier that day, at 12:20, NSRI Wilderness launched its Spirit of Rotary 100 and Oscar’s Rescuer and a sea rescue vehicle to respond to a reported incident at the Gwaing River mouth, 20km West of Wilderness. Following reports of a drowning in progress at the unprotected beach. According to the reports, two people had been swept out to sea.
The Red Cross AMS Skymed rescue helicopter, the SA Police Services and WC Government Health EMS responded.
On arrival on the scene, it was found that one unidentified man had managed to get out of the water, but he had left the scene. During the search for the second man, the Skymed rescue helicopter located the man floating in the surf.
An NSRI rescue swimmer was deployed from the helicopter into the surf and the body of the man was secured and then hoisted to shore where paramedics declared the man deceased. It is believed that he was from George and approximately 31 years old.
The body of the man has been taken into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services and police have opened an inquest docket.
'We bring you the latest Knysna, Garden Route news'
