Coroners have confirmed that local kitesurfer Graham Howes was killed in a tragic incident involving a whale off Bloubergstrand on September 7.
The 38-year-old’s death has been described as a freak accident following an extensive investigation that included three independent autopsies.
Authorities have concluded that Howes had kited out to a pod of whales when he was struck by one of the massive creatures with a force exceeding a ton. The impact rendered him unconscious instantly, leading to his drowning.
This conclusion was reached based on consistent evidence across multiple findings, including the snapped kite lines, a damaged board, an unreleased safety mechanism, final camera footage, and the recovery positions of all equipment and injuries sustained.
Howes, a well-known and respected figure in South Africa’s extreme sports community, was last seen kiteboarding offshore near Eden on the Bay in Bloubergstrand around 1 pm on Sunday, September 7.
When he failed to return that evening, the NSRI Melkbosstrand duty crew was activated just before 8 pm.
A large-scale search operation was launched, with multiple agencies, including emergency services, private and commercial vessels, as well as air, land, and sea resources joining forces in an effort to locate him.
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