Two fishermen missing - Elands Bay

Sea Rescue – Elands Bay – 13th March, 2011: 2 fishermen missing:At 14h20 NSRI Mykonos volunteers were called out following reports of a boat capsized off Elands Point, Elands Bay (on the West Coast) and two fishermen reported to be missing.We sent our sea rescue 4x4 vehicle towing our sea rescue craft to Elands Bay to be launched on-scene and the SA Police Services, the Police Dive Unit, members of The Department of Environmental Affairs – Oceans and Coasts and the Metro Red Cross AMS helicopter responded to the scene.According to a surviving 19 year old crewmen, their small open fishing boat, carrying three fishermen, capsized in the surf line at Mossel Bay (Elands Bay) and the survivor swam ashore where he then ran to the Elands Bay police station where the alarm was raised.An extensive air and sea search involving our NSRI rescue craft, shore patrols and an extensive air search has revealed no sign of the two missing fishermen, 44 and 41 years old. All three men are local fishermen from Elands Bay.The capsized boat, which was clearly visible from the beach, lay approximately 200 meters off-shore and has now been towed ashore by fellow fishermen.A large contingent of local fishermen have joined in the search and the search area is concentrated to a small Bay at Elands Point (Mossel Bay). It has been confirmed that immediately on hearing of the incident local fishermen launched two boats to begin a search.It is believed that the incident happened at around 13h00 and the survivor reached the police station to raise the alarm at approximately 14h10.A search is continuing and a Police Dive Unit are engaged in the search with the NSRI and search and rescue teams.