8 September, NSRI Station 18, Melkbosstrand, Station 3 Table Bay, Station 34 Yzerfontein, NSRI West Coast
Edited: An on-going search continues for missing local kite-board surfer Graham Howes, aged 38, from Bloubergstrand , who was last seen around lunch time yesterday.
He was on a blue and black kite-board, with a white kite sail with red writing, in a black wet suit. The local community and the fishing, sailing, private and commercial maritime community, in the area between Blouberg Beach and North West along the West Coast towards Dassen Islands and beyond to keep a sharp look out.
The search area has been extend out to sea from Eden on the Bay and out to sea in a North West direction between Bloubergstrand and Robben Island and out to sea beyond Bokpunt and past the vicinity between Yzerfontein and Dassen Island. Camera footage obtained by local security indicates sighting Graham on a kite-board around 1 pm in the vicinity offshore of Eden on the Bay.
An extensive sea, air and shoreline search continued into the early hours of this morning for Graham Howes and the seearch continues the NSRI says.
Yesterday , 7 Septemebr around 8 pm , NSRI Melkbosstrand duty crew were activated following reports from his family that Graham had not returned from an afternoon kite-boarding session offshore of Eden on the Bay, Bloubergstrand. Graham had filed to return by late afternoon. NSRI Melkbosstrand launched the NSRI rescue craft ‘Rotary’s Gift’ to initiate a search while shoreline patrols were conducted.
NSRI Table Bay launched the NSRI rescue craft DHL Deliverer and Spirit of Day, NSRI Yzerfontein dispatched a quad-bike shoreline search and launched the NSRI rescue craft Rotary Onwards. A WC Government Health EMS Metro Rescue drone unit was dispatched conducting aerial infrared search efforts.
Family and friends, the Blouberg and Melkbosstrand coast watchers and neighbourhood watch groups, including the kite-boarding community, are assisting. The SA Police Services attended and a formal investigation has been opened. CoCT water rescue network, Police WPDS (Water Policing and Diving Services), Police Sea Borderline Control and CoCT Law Enforcement, are alerted.
DFFE (Environmental officers) at Robben Island are alerted, MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) and TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Port of Table Bay Port Control are assisting. Telkom Maritime Radio Services are continuing to broadcast a marine VHF radio all ships alert.
The NSRI says all possibilities are being investigated in this ongoing search operation.
NSRI Emergency:087 094 9774
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