Sea Rescue – Durban and Witsand – 06 January, 2011: NSRI Durban assist Police Search and Rescue with search; and NSRI Witsand rescue 3 from capsized boat:
Durban:
At 06h33 NSRI Durban volunteers responded to KwaMakutha residential area following a request for assistance from Police Search and Rescue engaged in an ongoing search for a 4 year old boy missing on a river in the KwaMakutha residential area.
The 4 year old and a 6 year old girl went missing late yesterday after being swept down river while playing on the river bank. The river has subsided in strength from recent flood conditions.
The girl was located by Police Search and Rescue late yesterday and her body was handed into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services.
An ongoing search, conducted by Police Search and Rescue and a Police K-9 dog unit, and assisted by NSRI Durban volunteers saw the recovery, by the Police K-9 dog unit and Police Search and Rescue divers, of the 4 year old and the body has been handed into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services.
Witsand:
At 08h30 NSRI Witsand launched their sea rescue craft following reports of a boat capsized at “The Bar”, off Witsand.
On arrival on-scene, Jako Pretorius, 48, and his son’s, Rikus 22 and Marnus, 20, all from Kimberly, were found clinging to the upturned hull of their 4.9 metre Skip (small ski-boat) and all 3 were safely rescued.
Sea conditions were rough with a 3 to 5 metre swell and a 15 knot South Easterly wind which may have contributed to the men capsizing on their boat as they exited Witsand through the channel heading out to sea.
Once sea conditions subside attempts will be made to recover their boat.
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