PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - A sea rescue training exercise turned into a rescue operation when an elderly man was swept out to sea at the Keurbooms River Mouth on Sunday 11 April.
National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Plettenberg Bay trainee, coxswain Monica Taylor, said that at about 09:40, while conducting routine training exercises, the crew were alerted to reports of a surf skier in difficulty.
"We believe he was paddling in the Keurbooms River, near the river mouth, during an outgoing tide, when he was caught in the outgoing tide before capsizing in the mouth of the river," Taylor said.
The 70-year-old man had been wearing a life-jacket, but was swept out to sea through the river mouth. His surf ski washed ashore.
"Our jet rib sea rescue craft, Rescue 14 Bravo, was diverted to respond to the scene. On arrival, we found the local man caught in a rip current in the Keurbooms River Mouth."
Taylor said the man was swimming towards the shore when he was taken aboard the rescue craft and then taken safely ashore.
His surf ski was recovered on the beach by bystanders.
"He was reunited with his wife. He was not injured and required no further assistance."
Taylor commended the bystander who raised the alarm.
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