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35 Squadron |
Missing Surf-skier found after 8 hours in the waterFalse Bay, 03 December, 2006 ASR crew involved Bruce
Bodmer (RO Rescue Officer) SAAF Commander: Maj Burger click here to read Casper's point of view on www.surkski.info Press Release At 12h51 NSRI Gordons Bay, NSRI Strandfontein and the Metro Red Cross AMS helicopter were activated by the National Ports Authority following reports of a surf-skier, part of a Men's Health Discovery Surf Ski Series event between Monwabisi and the Van Riebeek Hotel in Gordons Bay, overdue and missing. The event had started at Monwabisi at 10h10 and the last surf-skiers had arrived in Gordon's Bay at 12h30 but by 12h45 it was clear that Casper Kruger of Gordon's Bay was overdue and missing. A sea, air and shore search commenced covering the area between Monwabisi and Gordons Bay and NSRI Simonstown and the Vodacom Netcare 911 Surf Rescue helicopter were tasked to join the search. The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) and Maritime Radio Services assisted in coordination and communication and Maritime Radio Services posted an all ships alert in the False Bay area. Fellow event surf-skiers assisted with shore patrols. By 14h50 no sign of the missing surf-skier could be found despite a massive sea, air and shore search and the SA Air Force NSRI Air Sea Rescue unit (SAAF NSRI ASR) were tasked to join in the search. In the 2 metre choppy sea swells and 25 knot North North Westerly wind an extensive search continued and at approximately 18h00 the SAAF NSRI ASR found the surf-skier 2.5 nautical miles off Steenbras Point. Bruce Bodmer, Station Commander of the SAAF NSRI ASR said that on spotting the surf-skier from the helicopter NSRI rescue swimmers Tony Onwood and Miles Bisset were deployed into the surf, from the SAAF Oryx helicopter, to secure the patient and a rescue basket was used to winch hoist him aboard the helicopter. Bruce said the casualty can be commended for wearing his life jacket and staying with his craft. He also tied himself to the surf-ski to prevent him from becoming separated from the surf-ski. Casper Kruger, from Gordons Bay, was flown to Gordons Bay aboard the SAAF Oryx helicopter where he was treated for severe hypothermia and the decision was taken to airlift him aboard the SAAF Oryx helicopter directly to hospital where he is being treated for hypothermia and will be kept overnight for observation. He is in a stable condition. During the operation on many occasions rescue resources most likely came close to the drifting casualty but due to choppy seas he wasn't spotted. If he had red distress flares or a cell-phone in a watertight container the outcome of finding him during this operation may have been much sooner. Caspers wife Sandra said she had told her husband to take his flares with him but he launched without them. The NSRI are appealing to all persons launching any kind of craft to go to sea to carry safety equipment including life-jackets, red distress flares, a signaling mirror, communications radio and/or cellphone and a whistle in watertight sleeves. Resources deployed in this operation were NSRI Gordons Bay's 10 metre deep sea rescue craft - Sanlam Rescuer, NSRI Strandfontein's 5.5 metre rigid inflatable - Douglas Murray, NSRI Simonstown's 9 metre deep sea rescue craft - Spirit of Freemasonry, the Metro Red Cross AMS helicopter, the Vodacom Netcare 911 Surf Rescue helicopter and a SAAF NSRI ASR Oryx helicopter. NSRI 4x4 vehicles were also posted along the shoreline to conduct shore searches. Images from the Operation taken by F/Sgt Twine
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