Remains of body recovered in rescue operation

UPDATE Thursday, 13th April:

NSRI Convey sincerest condolences to the family of a 68 year old Austrian man who died yesterday at Protea Banks, South Coast Kwa-Zulu Natal.

NSRI express sincere thanks to both the German and Austrian Consulates who assisted in this incident.

NSRI commend all of the private boats, private fishing boats and charter boats that assisted in this operation.

File image

 At 13h45, Wednesday, 12th April, NSRI Shelly Beach, NSRI Port Edward and Police Search and Rescue were activated following reports of a scuba diver missing during a scuba dive at the Northern Pinnacle, Protea Banks, South Coast, Kwa-Zulu Natal.

According to fellow divers of a group of divers on a charter scuba dive they had been surfacing from a dive when on surfacing the man had disappeared.

The NSRI Shelly Beach sea rescue craft Caltex Challenger and Spirit of Dawn, the NSRI Port Edward sea rescue craft Wild Coast Sun Rescuer and a Police Search and Rescue boat launched to join a search operation already underway by multiple private boats and by charter boats and on arrival on the scene a coordinated search, assisted also by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre), NSRI Durban and Telkom Maritime Radio Services, continued.

The SA Police Services, Medevac ambulance services and Hibiscus Fire and Rescue Services also responded to stand-by at the NSRI Shelly Beach sea rescue base.

A Natal Sharks Board fixed wing aircraft was placed on alert and the NSRI (ASR) Air Sea Rescue and an SA Air Force 15 Squadron Augusta helicopter were activated.

An extensive drift pattern and sweeping line search operation was conducted utilising the 3 sea rescue craft, the Police Search and Rescue boat, private boats, private fishing boats, and charter boats and Police divers conducted a scuba dive search.

During the search the remains of the body of the man, believed to have been bitten by a shark, were located by crew of a private fishing boat and the remains of the body were recovered from the water onto a sea rescue craft and brought to shore.

The remains of the body of the man, a 68 year old German citizen, have been taken into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services and Police have opened an inquest docket.

-ENDS- 
TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE