A male surfski paddler from Pretoria was rescued on Monday morning after encountering difficulties in the treacherous waters of the Knysna Heads, according to the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI).
Jerome Simonis, station commander at NSRI Station 12 Knysna, said the duty crew was activated at 08:38 on 28 April following reports from eyewitnesses who had spotted a paddler in distress near the Heads.
The rescue team launched the NSRI rescue vessel JayTee IV from their Knysna base, while shore crew were dispatched to an elevated lookout point to monitor the situation from land.
Upon arrival, an NSRI rescue swimmer was deployed into the water to assist the casualty. The paddler, identified as an adult male, was brought safely aboard the rescue craft while the rescue swimmer remained with the surfski in the turbulent surf zone.
The crew maneuvered the vessel beyond the wave sets during a retreating tide before executing a safe return to recover the rescue swimmer and the surfski.
The paddler was transported to the NSRI base at the Knysna Lagoon and, once ashore, required no further medical assistance.
Simonis commended the swift response of the crew and the vigilance of the bystanders who alerted authorities.