At 20h00, Saturday, 19th March, NSRI Hermanus duty crew investigated eye-witness reports of a red distress flare sighted off-shore of De Kelders.

After no further flares were sighted, and with no persons reported overdue or missing, and no sign of any vessels in distress no further action was taken and by Sunday, 20th March, with still no reports of any persons missing or overdue the origin and reason of the red distress flare activation remains a mystery.

At 10h23, Monday, 21st March, NSRI Hermanus duty crew, WC Government Health EMS and the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter were activated to respond to Pearly Beach following eye-witness reports of a paddler in difficulty, 500 meters off-shore, on a Sea-Kayak.

Prior to emergency teams arriving on the scene, a private boat, with two men onboard who were fishing in the area, were alerted by friends of the paddler in distress and they went to his assistance and rescued the 52 year old paddler, from Parow, and they brought him to shore and he required no further assistance.

All responding resources were stood down to return to base.

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