Kite-Surfers Assisted

Etienne van Zyl, NSRI Durban station commander, said: At 13h21, Saturday, 29 August, NSRI Durban duty crew, while conducting routine training exercises, were activated following reports of a female kite-surfer suspected to be missing (overdue) offshore at Virginia Beach, Durban.

NSRI shore crew responded to Glenashley Beach, with binoculars, to begin a shoreline search.

NSRI crew responded to our NSRI Durban station 5 rescue base where our NSRI rescue vehicle responded and our NSRI rescue craft Spirit of Surfski 6 was launched.

Our NSRI rescue craft Alick Rennie diverted from routine training to respond to the scene.

Metro Police Search and Rescue responded and the KZN Surf Rescue network was alerted.

Virginia Airport ATC (Air Traffic Control) alerted aircraft landing and taking off, in the area, to be on the look-out.

It appears that a female kite-surfer may have overshot Virginia Beach while kite-boarding to Virginia Beach. Other kite-surfers had launched into the water to begin a search.

As the search was progressing it was confirmed by lifeguards at DUC (Durban Undersea Club) that the female kite-surfer had reached the beach safely with a second kite-surfer, they were safe and not injured.

An additional 3 kite-surfers, (Good Samaritans who we believe had launched to look for the missing female), were attempting to get to shore at Virginia Beach, they were observed caught in the surf-zone offshore at Virginia Beach.

Our NSRI craft reached them where 2 kite-surfers, adult males, locals, were rescued onto the rescue craft safely and one kite-board was recovered. The third kite-surfer came ashore at the Beachwood Development and he was in the care of Metro Police Search and Rescue reporting that kite-surfer to be not injured.

The 2 kite-surfers, safely on our rescue craft, were brought to shore at DUC.

It was confirmed by the kite-surfing community that all kite-surfers and their kites and boards were accounted for, safe and there were no injuries.

NSRI Commend the swift response and the assistance of the kite-surfing community and all agencies involved.