Helium balloons mistaken for paraglider spark second sea rescue search in Cape

Staff Reporter

Helium party balloons may have been mistaken for a paraglider landing in the sea off Kogelbaai on Sunday, prompting a search and rescue operation for the second time in just over a week, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said on Monday.

NSRI Gordons Bay duty crew were activated at about 5.30pm on Sunday after eyewitnesses reported what they believed could be a paraglider landing in the sea between Dappat Se Gat and Kogelbaai.

The City of Cape Town water rescue network, the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC) and the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre were alerted by the NSRI emergency operations centre.

The NSRI rescue craft Spirit of Surfski was launched, while an NSRI rescue vehicle, police and the Western Cape EMS rescue squad responded. EMS metro control also placed the EMS drone unit on alert.

NSRI shore crew met the eyewitness and City of Cape Town shark