A 52 year-old German kite-surfer was rescued by his friends and NSRI volunteers after being knocked unconscious in an accident yesterday, 22 January, in the late afternoon off-shore of Eerste Steen in the Western Cape.
Two German friends of the kite-surfer found the injured kite surfer unconscious lying face down in the water. The trio had apparently been training between Bloubergstrand and Melkbostrand for a kite surfing event when one of them was knocked unconscious.
On turning their injured friend over, the pair found he was not breathing. It appears they imitated rescue breaths and their friend regained breathing and consciousness.
The pair drifted in gale force winds with their friend who kept lapsing in and out of consciousness.
NSRI were alerted at 6 pm to assist the injured kite surfer in difficulty. NSRI stations of Melkbosstrand, Table Bay and Air Sea Rescue (ASR) plus a AMS/EMS Skymed helicopter were in the area at the time searching unsuccessfully for a paddler reported to be in difficulty.
An NSRI sea rescue craft located the three German men 700 meters offshore of Derde Steen. The patient was placed in the sea rescue craft and brought to shore where paramedics treated him.
He was airlifted by the helicopter to hospital in a stable but critical condition.
The two friends are commended for their actions.
Edited by St Francis Chronicle
St Francis Chronicle 