The NSRI said eight paddlers who went kayaking on the Fish River on Friday, but whose path was apparently cut-off by hippos, have all been found safe.
It was initially reported that two people who went for help were missing, but this turned out not to be the case.
The NSRI said there was no cell phone signal where they were located.
“According to friends and family, they had been dropped off upriver on Friday afternoon to paddle down river but failed to arrive as expected on Saturday.
On Sunday afternoon at 16h00, the alarm was raised and NSRI Port Alfred and emergency services were alerted,” said NSRI spokesperson, Craig Lambinon.
“NSRI Port Alfred, an SA Police Services K-9 Search and Rescue officer, Nature Conservation rangers and Traffic Services officers launched a search for 2 of the party who had been reported to be missing from the main group”.
“Fire and Rescue Services, the SA Air Force 15 Squadron (Charlie Flight), EMS and the Mountain Club of South Africa remained on alert,” Lambinon said.
“A farmer had gone to the original location where they had been spotted after a volunteered private fixed-wing aircraft had spotted the group during a search earlier on Sunday late afternoon.”
“The farmer found all 8 persons at that location but unable to communicate with the search party due to no cell phone signal,” Lambinon added.
“According to the group the two missing men had gone to where they could find a cell phone signal, at 17h00 they had made a call to a friend when cell phone signal was again lost so they retreated back to the main group”.
“The search party who were searching for these two missing men backtracked to that original location of the main group where it was then confirmed that all 8 persons in the party were safe.”
Lambinon said hippos that had apparently earlier blocked their progress were in the vicinity but not posing any danger.
“All 8 persons have chosen to remain on the river and not be escorted out by the rescue party.
They are all adults reportedly from East London,” he concluded.
