What killed Graham Howes? Missing kiteboarder found dead — here’s what to know
Graham Howes missing at sea — latest search update
Condolences are pouring in for the family and friends of Graham Howes, whose body was recovered at sea on Monday following an extensive multi-agency search.
Howes, an experienced kiteboarder, was reported missing on Sunday, September 7, after he failed to return from an afternoon session offshore from Eden on the Bay in Bloubergstrand. He was last seen around 1 p.m. wearing a wetsuit and riding a blue and black kiteboard with a white sail marked with red lettering. When he did not return as expected later that day, his family alerted the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI).
The search effort quickly escalated, involving NSRI crews from Melkbosstrand, Table Bay, and Yzerfontein, along with police, government health officials, metro rescue teams, and the local kiteboarding community. Rescue crafts, drones, shoreline patrols, and even a marine VHF all-ships alert were deployed in an attempt to locate him.
By Monday morning, search teams recovered Howes’ kite and board northwest of Bloubergstrand towards Dassen Island. Later in the day, the crew of a local motor yacht participating in the operation discovered his body at sea within the designated search area. His remains were handed over to the South African Police Service and the Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.
Authorities commended the “incredible effort” of all who participated, noting the dedication of private and commercial vessels, neighborhood watch groups, and community volunteers who joined emergency services in the search.
The discovery has brought a measure of closure to Howes’ family, who have requested privacy during this difficult time.
Craig Lambinon, NSRI Communications, confirmed the recovery and expressed gratitude to every agency and individual who assisted in the operation.
Below is NSRI full statement:
Condolences are conveyed to family and friends of Graham Howes who was located and recovered at sea sadly deceased during ongoing search efforts on Monday.
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.
During Monday morning the kite-surf sail and kite-surf board 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.
The body of the deceased man has been taken into the care of Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.
The extensive efforts by all involved in this incredible effort that has helped the family with closure is commended.
Family has respectfully requested privacy in this difficult time.
Enquiries: CRAIG LAMBINON NSRI COMMUNICATIONS +27823803800
See media statement below …
Extensive Search Ongoing for Missing Kite Surfer
At 19h59, Sunday, 7 September, NSRI Melkbosstrand duty crew were activated following reports from family that Graham had not returned from an afternoon kite-boarding session offshore of Eden on the Bay, Bloubergstrand.
Wearing a wet-suit Graham was last seen kite-boarding in the area at around 13h00 but he has failed to return as was expected reportedly by late afternoon.
NSRI Melkbosstrand launched the NSRI rescue craft Rotary’s Gift to initiate a search while shoreline patrols were conducted.
NSRI Table Bay launched the NSRI rescue craft DHL Deliverer and Spirit of Day, NSRI Yzerfontein dispatched a quad-bike shoreline search and launched the NSRI rescue craft Spirit of DHL II.
A WC Government Health EMS Metro Rescue drone unit was dispatched conducting aerial infrared search efforts.
The SA Police Services attended, and a formal investigation has been opened.
Family and friends, the Blouberg and Melkbosstrand coast watchers and neighbourhood watch groups, including the kite-boarding community, are assisting.
CoCT water rescue network, Police WPDS (Water Policing and Diving Services), Police Sea Borderline Control and CoCT Law Enforcement, are alerted.
DFFE (Environmental officers) at Robben Island are alerted.
MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) and TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Port of Table Bay Port Control are assisting.
Telkom Maritime Radio Services are continuing to broadcast a marine VHF radio all ships alert.
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 look out.
Search grids – taking into account weather, wind and sea currents – 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.
An accomplished kite-boarder, wearing a wet-suit, Graham remains missing despite the extensive sea, air and shoreline search that continued into the early hours of Monday morning.
All possibilities are being investigated in this ongoing search operation.
Camera footage obtained by local security indicates sighting Graham, on a blue and black kiteboard, with a white kite sail with red writing, in a black wet suit, at after 13h00 on Sunday – in the vicinity offshore of Eden on the Bay.
Enquiries: Craig Lambinon – NSRI Communications +27823803800.
