Rescue teams continue search for local kite surfer Graham Howes

Rescue teams have intensified their search for Graham Howes, a local kite surfer who has been missing since Sunday.

The 38-year-old from Bloubergstrand failed to return after an afternoon of kite-boarding offshore of Eden on the Bay.

According to his family, concern grew when he did not arrive home as expected. Surveillance camera footage captured Graham at 1pm, gliding on a blue and black kiteboard, with a white kite sail featuring red writing, and dressed in a black wetsuit, in the vicinity of Eden on the Bay.

National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesperson, Craig Lambinon, said the Melkbosstrand duty crew had been activated after receiving reports that Howes had gone missing.

"NSRI Melkbosstrand launched the NSRI rescue craft Rotary's Gift to initiate a search while shoreline patrols were conducted," Lambinon said.

Several other rescue teams have also joined in the search.

Lambinon said Howes is an accomplished kite-boarder.

He added that teams are working with search grids, taking into account weather, wind and sea currents.

"This is being used to indicate the search area to extend out to sea from Eden on the Bay and out to sea in a north-west direction between Bloubergstrand and Robben Island and out to sea beyond Bokpunt and past the vicinity between Yzerfontein and Dassen Island.

"We are appealing to the local community and the fishing, sailing, private and commercial maritime community, in the area between Blouberg Beach and North West along the West Coast towards Dassen Islands and beyond to keep a sharp lookout," he said. 

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