Paddle board beginners urged to stay close to shore

Beginners of paddle boarding are urged to stay close to the shore after a 59-year-old man drifted all the way from Shenzhen waters to Sai Kung. He reportedly fell into the water near Shenzhen’s Yantian district last Saturday afternoon. The chairman of the Surf and Stand Up Paddle Association, Bryan Ng, said favourable weather conditions that day helped the 59-year-old survive the ordeal. "It was [blowing a] northerly wind that day, so the male victim got blown downwind all the way back to Hong Kong," he told RTHK. Ng reminded beginners to be extremely careful while out at sea and not to underestimate the weather. "If beginners' skills aren't too good, I would recommend people to stay close to the shoreline, like as in within 200 metres. So if anything happens, they can kneel down [and encounter] less wind resistance and then they can paddle back," he said. Ng said people should reconsider whether to proceed with water sport activities if the wind strength exceeds force four or five. He also urged people to ask instructors or equipment rental centres for advice before they start their activity.