PORT ALFRED – Fisherman drowns:

At 13h05 on Wednesday the 19th of February, Port Alfred duty crew were activated following reports of a fisherman lost overboard the commercial fishing boat HAWAI in the Kowie River Mouth at the river mouth entrance to the Port Alfred harbour.Juan Pretorius, NSRI Port Alfred station commander, said:'Our volunteers launched LOTTO CHALLENGER and NSRI rescue swimmers and a Sea Rescue vehicle responded directly to the scene. The SA Police Services and Guardmed ambulance service also responded.'On arrival on-scene the body of a man was found floating in the water near to the breakwater on the sea side.“NSRI rescue swimmers swam out towards the man from the land side and NSRI rescue swimmers were deployed from our sea rescue boat.“Our NSRI rescue swimmers brought the body of the man to shore through the surf-line where Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) efforts were commenced by our NSRI medics and on their arrival Guardmed ambulance service paramedics assisted with the CPR efforts but despite the extensive effort, the man was declared dead on the scene.“The man is believed to be aged approximately 50 years old.'Police have opened an inquest docket and the body of the man was handed into the care of the Police and the Forensic Pathology Services.“It appears that the commercial fishing boat may have been broadsided by a wave while entering through the channel of the river mouth from the sea side when it is believed that the fisherman fell overboard.'Our condolences to the mans colleagues, friends and family. Lotto Challenger