At 00h39 on Monday the 22nd of September, NSRI Port Elizabeth volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority following reports of of a 50 year old fisherman collapsed and unconscious aboard the Cape Town fishing trawler TORALLA South of Cape Recife. The fishing vessel reporting to be heading at best speed from fishing grounds towards Port Elizabeth and requesting urgent medical assistance.Our NSRI Port Elizabeth volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched our sea rescue craft SPIRIT OF TOFT and responded accompanied by an EC Government Health EMS paramedic.Our sea rescue craft rendezvoused with TORALLA 5 nautical miles South of Cape Recife and NSRI rescue crew and the EMS paramedic were transferred aboard the trawler but sadly the paramedic declared the fisherman deceased.While a heart attack is suspected to be the cause of death Police will investigate as is standard procedure in a case such as this.The body of the man was brought to shore aboard the fishing trawler during this morning and has been handed into the care of Police and the Forensic Pathology Services.Condolences are conveyed to family of the deceased man.
