The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Shelly Beach duty crew was activated last night at about 20:30 following eyewitness reports of believed to be two red distress flares sighted five minutes apart at sea offshore of South Port Anerley Beach.

“Concerns increased after the eyewitnesses confirmed that at last light they had noticed a paddler behind the back breakers,” says NSRI Shelly Beach station commander Gary Wolmerans.

“It is unknown if that paddler had come ashore or if that paddler had perhaps deployed the flares, but there are no indications of anyone missing or unaccounted for.”

NSRI investigated the matter and the KZN Surf Rescue Network was alerted. Telkom Maritime Radio Services and Transnet National Ports Authority Durban Port Control assisted.

“Despite no reports of anyone overdue or missing at sea, the situation is continuing to be monitored but at this stage it appears that the two red distress flares deployed offshore of South Port remains a mystery,” adds Wolmerans.

“As a precaution, during the night, NSRI Emergency Operations Centre, assisted by the NSRI training department, plotted a drift pattern to determine where a paddler would be at first light if a paddler was adrift holding onto a paddle craft or adrift in a paddle craft.”

Should anyone have information about this matter that may help the NSRI and the KZN Surf Rescue Network shed light on the two flare sightings, call NSRI EOC on the emergency only contact number: 087 094 9774.