Surfskier Rescued

Cape Times, 27 Dec 2005,
The NSRI in Simon's Town, South Africa received a call for help yesterday when Alan Witherden, 56, from Parkwood, Johannesburg, fell off his surf-ski near Glencairn. His friend, John Rhynes, from Constantia, paddled to shore to call for help.

After a brief search by NSRI and Cape Medical Response crews, Witherden was spotted clinging to his surf-ski a mile off Fish Hoek beach, having drifted in currents, with 20 to 25 knot south-easterly winds and 1.5-metre swells.

A Metro Rescue Red Cross AMS helicopter crew lowered NSRI rescue swimmer PJ Veldhuizen into the waves. He hooked Witherden to a static line and hoisted him to safety.