Juan Pretorius, NSRI Port Alfred station commander, said: 'At 20h30 (Saturday, 08th June) NSRI Port Alfred volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of 3 people missing on the Fish River after their boat reportedly capsized at the Fish River Mouth approximately 30 miles North of Port Alfred.'A man reporting to be a survivor had raised the alarm. He reported that he and 3 other men (his father, an uncle and a friend of his father. All from East London) had gone to a rocky outcrop at the Fish River Mouth aboard a small dinghy where they had fished from the rocks. At approximately just after 17h00, at high tide, they had gotten back into the dinghy to go back to the shore when waves capsized the dinghy and the three men had disappeared while the survivor had managed to hang onto the upturned hull of the dinghy before then managing to get back to the shore alone.'After failing to find any sign of the three men he had hiked approximately 3 km to get to a phone to raise the alarm.'Sea conditions were a 2 to 3 meter swells and a light South Westerly wind.'NSRI Port Alfred and a Police Disaster Management team responded to the remote location.'On arrival on-scene NSRI Port Alfred rescuers met the survivor who was made comfortable and he was warmed. He was in a state of shock but he was not injured. A search commenced for the remaining three missing men and immediately into the search, at low tide, the body of one of the missing men was found and recovered from shallow surf in the vicinity.'Police teams arrived on the scene and joined in a search which is continuing for the remaining two missing men.'The survivor is believed to be aged in his early 20's. Amongst the missing men are his father and an uncle and a friend of the fathers. It is not known which of these men were found by NSRI rescuers in shallow surf during the initial search and this remains subject to positive identification by family members. The ages of the deceased man and of the 2 missing men are also not known to NSRI. (names will not be released by NSRI).'Police assisted with family members who had arrived on the scene during the night and counselling was arranged. Family will meet with Police again on the scene today (Sunday, 09th June).'Police divers and Police K-9 dog rescue teams are joining the search today (Sunday 09th June).'The body of the deceased man has been handed into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services.'Police have opened an inquest docket.
Fish River mouth file picture by David MacGregor.
