Speargun Accident:

CAPE POINT:Darren Zimmerman, NSRI Simons Town station commander, said: 'At 08h15 on Sunday the 25th of August NSRI Simons Town duty crew were activated following reports of 38 year old Willie van Wyk, from Hout Bay, who had a speargun's spear through his right upper leg at Boytjies Drift, near Buffels Bay, Cape Point.'Willie was sitting on rocks, preparing to get into the water to go spear fishing early this morning when a wave washed over him, causing him to be dragged over rocks by the force of the water. In the process he fell on the spear from his own spear gun and it went through his leg.'There were fears that the spear may have penetrated or severed his femoral artery and an urgent medical rescue response was activated.'Our Simons Town volunteers responded in our sea rescue vehicle and CMR (Cape Medical Response) ambulance, the WC Government Health EMS and the Red Cross AMS Skymed helicopter responded.'On arrival on-scene he was found with the spear straight through his upper right leg. It was protruding out of both sides of his leg. Fortunately the spear had missed his femoral artery.'Paramedics stabilized him before bolt cutters were used to shorten the spear (He would not have been able to be loaded into either an ambulance or into the helicopter if the spear was not shortened on each side).'The spear gun was not loaded and the injury was caused when Willie fell onto the spear when a wave knocked him off the ledge he was sitting on. It appears that the spear gun was wedged in a crack and Willie fell on it.'He was airlifted by Skymed to hospital in a stable condition where doctors will surgically remove the spear from his leg. He is expected to make a full recovery.'This read from Outdoor Empire has the story and pictures are available for media download from Sea Rescue's Flickr page. Willie van Wyk, from Hout Bay, with a speargun's spear through his right upper leg. Picture Chops Craig. Willie van Wyk, from Hout Bay, with a speargun's spear through his right upper leg. Picture Chops Craig. Willie van Wyk, from Hout Bay, with a speargun's spear through his right upper leg. Picture Chops Craig.