Graham Howes, 38, a well-known and experienced kite-boarder from the Blouberg community, failed to return from a Sunday afternoon kite-boarding session off the coast of Eden on the Bay.
An extensive air, sea, and shoreline search effort immediately began, but it’s now been tragically confirmed that he has been found deceased.
According to the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), the body was found by the crew of a local motor yacht that had also taken part in the search.
“Multiple agencies, emergency services, private and commercial air, land and sea resources assisted in extensive ongoing search efforts. The search area extended north-west of Bloubergstrand towards Dassen Island,” said the institute.
“During Monday morning, the kite-surf sail and kite-surfboard were located and recovered at sea, where later in the day the body of Graham Howes was located and recovered at sea in the search area by the crew of a local motor yacht that had also joined in the extensive search efforts.”
Tragic end to search for Graham Howes
Craig Lambinon, spokesperson for the National Sea Rescue Institute, had previously stated that CCTV footage obtained from local security cameras showed Howes offshore in the Eden on the Bay area shortly after 1pm.
Last seen wearing a black wetsuit and riding a blue and black kite-board with a white kite sail bearing red writing, search efforts were launched shortly before 20:00 on Sunday.
Howes’ body has since been taken into the care of Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.
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