Deon Truter, NSRI Plettenberg Bay station commander, said:
"At 09h15 (Thursday, 10th January) NSRI Plettenberg Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of 3 hikers, while trying to cross the Bloukrans River, while hiking the Otter Trail, swept out to sea through the Bloukrans River Mouth.
"It appears that 8 hikers (3 males and 5 females) had tried to cross the Bloukrans River, while hiking on the Otter Trail together, and 5 had made it across to the other side safely (2 males and 3 females) but the current had swept the remaining 3 out to sea through the Bloukrans River Mouth. (2 females and 1 male were swept out to sea).
"Our NSRI Plettenberg Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched our sea rescue craft LEONARD SMIT and responded.
"Sea conditions were rough with a 4 to 5 meter swells.
"On arrival on-scene we found the 5 hikers who had managed to get to the other side of the river were safe. The remaining 3 hikers had been swept further out to sea and they had reached some rocks and had clambered onto the rocks but in the rough sea conditions our sea rescue boat was not able to rescue them off the rocks and the WC Government Health EMS rescue helicopter - Skymed 2 - was activated.
"On arrival on-scene an NSRI rescue swimmer, Robert Gibson, was taken onboard Skymed 2 and he was winch hoisted from the helicopter onto the rocks where he secured the 3 casualties and they have been successfully winch hoisted into the Skymed 2 rescue helicopter and they have been brought safely to shore (in the rescue helicopter) and reunited with their friends. No one was injured.
"The hiking back packs of the 3 who were sept out to sea have been lost at sea.
"All 8 hikers are from Salt River in Cape Town."
-ENDS-
Released by:
Craig Lambinon
Sea Rescue Communications
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