The 61-year-old fisherman was pulled 1.5 nautical miles offshore by a shark who stole his catch!
Garden Route, South Africa (19 October 2020) – It actually sounds like something out of a cartoon but the 61-year-old man, who would like to stay anonymous, had to be rescued on his sea kayak after a shark stole his catch and pulled him out to sea.
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Oyster Bay station commander Lodewyk van Rensburg was alerted that a fisherman was deep at sea on a kayak and needed help.
“At 09h25, Saturday, 17 October, NSRI Oyster Bay duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from a fisherman on a fishing sea kayak who reported to NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) that he was in difficulty off-shore of Skuitbaai, Eersterivierstrand, between Tsitsikamma and Oyster Bay.”
Two sea rescue crafts were towed to Skuitbaai and launched into the sea while the NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew were placed on alert.
The fisherman was found anchored 1.5 nautical miles offshore of Skuitbaai on his fishing sea kayak.
“He was brought safely to shore without incident aboard our sea rescue craft, and his sea kayak was recovered, and once safely ashore, he required no further assistance.”
The fisherman explained that while fishing at sea on his kayak, he had hooked a fish using a fishing rod and line when a shark got hold of the fish and started pulling him out to sea. The shark made off with his fish, but he lost his paddle and some fishing gear along the way. Unable to paddle back to shore, he cast his anchor and raised the alarm.
Never a dull moment in South Africa, especially when confronting wildlife. Thank you Lodewyk van Rensburg and the entire NSRI team for the important work that you do.
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