Windsurfer safe after dramatic rescue at Bloubergstrand
A 43-year-old man is expected to make a full recovery after being rescued from the sea during a major search and rescue operation off Bloubergstrand.
Black News 
A 43-year-old man is expected to make a full recovery after being rescued from the sea during a major multi-agency search and rescue operation off Bloubergstrand on Tuesday afternoon.
According to NSRI Melkbosstrand station commander Rowan Marais, rescue teams were activated at 15:13 following multiple eyewitness reports of a man paddling on a windsurfing board who appeared to be in distress offshore near Ons Huisie restaurant.
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Emergency resources
NSRI rescue swimmers responded directly to the scene while the NSRI Melkbosstrand crew launched the rescue craft West Coast Relief from Station 18.
Big Bay Surf Lifesaving (BBSL) lifeguards were also activated and launched their rescue craft, while the City of Cape Town’s water rescue network mobilised additional emergency resources.
Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, Community Medics, Disaster Risk Management, Western Cape Government Health EMS and the South African Police Service all responded to the incident.
As rescue teams converged on the area, eyewitnesses reported that the paddler had disappeared from sight and could no longer be seen from the shoreline.
Sea and shoreline search
An extensive sea and shoreline search was launched, with EMS Metro Control placing a rescue helicopter on standby and deploying a drone unit to assist in locating the missing man.
During the search, rescuers located the man among rocks at Kids Rock.
An NSRI rescue swimmer was deployed from the rescue craft and successfully reached the stranded man before securing him and bringing him safely aboard the vessel.
Severe hypothermia
The man, who was suffering from severe hypothermia, was transported to shore at Small Bay, where paramedics provided emergency treatment before he was taken to hospital by ambulance.
He was reported to be in a stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery.
It is believed the Limpopo-born man, who now lives in the Bloubergstrand area, encountered difficulties while paddling on a windsurfing board.
The board was later recovered.
Marais commended the coordinated response of all emergency services involved, crediting their swift actions and teamwork with helping to save the man’s life.
