Michael Markinova from the Kleinmond NSRI shared how two women training for Iron Man saved a capsized kayaker and got him safely to shore.
Pringle Bay, South Africa (07 June 2022) – The KZN Iron Man has been postponed due to all the tragic flooding and destruction that has hit the province. Two hopeful participants have continued their training and, in the process, saved a life!
Michael Markinova, the NSRI Kleinmond training officer, shared that two women swimming at Pringle Bay were able to offer assistance to a man in distress while emergency services were on the way. The incident took place over the weekend.
“At 08h05, Sunday, 5 June, NSRI Kleinmond duty crew and NSRI Gordons Bay duty crew were alerted following concerns from the wife of a man on a kayak.
While paddling at Pringle Bay he had capsized and he appeared unable to get back onto his kayak. He stayed with the floating kayak and his wife raised the alarm.
NSRI Kleinmond duty crew responded to our NSRI rescue base and they were towing a sea rescue jet-rib to the scene while NSRI rescue swimmers responded directly to the scene.”
Once the rescue teams arrived, they found two women aiding the man to shore. The women were training for the postponed Iron Man event. As it turned out, the man on the Kayak was working as a training support and the women, in turn, became his support.
“On arrival on the scene 2 female swimmers could be seen helping the man towards the shore.
They reached the shore safely and NSRI rescue swimmers met them on the beach.
No injuries were sustained and after some rewarming no further assistance was required.
One of the ladies, age 32, was reportedly supposed to take part in an Iron Man competition in KZN that we believe was postponed and she took a swim at Pringle Bay, with a female friend, age 35, in a training swim and the man on the kayak, age 40, was their support boat.
After he capsized they decided to all swim back to the beach towing the kayak along with them when they were met by the NSRI responding crew on the beach.
Although they were in no immediate danger NSRI commend that the alarm was raised.”
NSRI appeal to all paddlers, sail boarders and boaters to download and use the free NSRI RSA SafeTrx cellphone application. Visit www.nsri.org.za for more information on NSRI RSA SafeTrx.
by 