Graeme Harding, NSRI Knysna station commander, said; “On Thursday 27 October 2011 at 18h18 NSRI Knysna volunteer duty crew were activated following reports of surf-skiers reportedly in difficulty in Knysna Heads in strong back-currents during the outgoing tide during the Spring Tide.
“Our NSRI volunteer duty crew launched our sea rescue craft JAYTEE III and SPIRIT OF KYC III and our NSRI 4×4 rescue vehicle was dispatched.
“4 Surf-skiers had been paddling at The Heads when one reportedly fell off his surf-ski and couldn’t get back on. He abandoned his craft and swam ashore after it became evident that his surf-ski was going to be dragged through The Heads and out to sea. He managed to reach rocks and clamber ashore. Two of his fellow surf-skiers went after his surf-ski, chasing after it through The Heads but it appears that they grew anxious for their own safety and they abandoned their efforts and turned around to paddle back in to safety.
“Our sea rescue craft met the two men coming back in through The Heads and they explained what had happened. These two men paddled to safety. Our sea rescue craft then continued out to sea and fetched the abandoned surf-ski out at sea and brought it back to the man who had swum ashore (his surf-ski was recovered and handed back to him on the rocks); the fourth paddler had already reached safety; and our NSRI medics checked out the man who had swum ashore and he was a bit cold but otherwise okay and treated for mild hypothermia!
“All four men are locals but we have not had a chance to round them up to record their details.
“As our rescue crews were returning from this rescue operation we were activated to reports of a father and his two sons being swept out to sea on INDIAN CANOE’S.
“Our sea rescue craft, already at sea, diverted and our NSRI 4×4 rescue vehicle found the two children, aged 10 and 14, who had both managed to reach rocks and they were helped ashore and were safe and not injured but obviously anxious about their dad who was being swept out to sea in a rapid outgoing tide.
“Our sea rescue craft caught up with their dad, 48 year old Harold Carolsfeld, from Germany, holding onto his capsized INDIAN CANOE, and being swept out to sea and already beyond The Heads. He was taken aboard our sea rescue craft, his canoe was recovered, and he was brought to our sea rescue base where he was reunited with his sons. He was treated for hypothermia but required no further assistance after he had been warmed up.”
