Good Samaritan dies while helping to save paddler at Kalk Bay Harbour
Image: FILE
A DRAMATIC rescue of a paddler on a surf-ski offshore of Kalk Bay Harbour ended in tragedy when a Good Samaritan who attempted to save his life died on Monday.
The local man, aged 35, had, on seeing the 57-year-old paddler appearing to be in difficulty on his surf-ski, jumped off the Kalk Bay Harbour wall and swam to him in efforts to assist.
NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said NSRI Strandfontein, Cape Medical Response, the SA Police Services, WC Government Health EMS and Law Enforcement were all activated following eyewitnesses reporting the paddler to have capsized about 150 meters offshore of the Kalk Bay Harbour wall.
He said their NSRI Simons Town crew had been at their base at the time, conducting routine training when they were called to respond.
'A local fishing vessel, the Emily Marie, hearing bystanders calling out for help, had seen the paddler in the water and the skipper and crew of the Emily Marie launched their fishing vessel to assist. The paddler, although in the water, was gradually swimming back towards the Kalk Bay Harbour mouth using his surf-ski to aid in his floatation. The Good Samaritan had reached the paddler but appeared then to be in difficulties himself,' he said.
At this stage the fishing vessel Emily Marie had reached the two men, rescuing both onto their fishing vessel.
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