At 09h02, Sunday, 15th February, NSRI Agulhas duty crew were activated following an urgent request for medical assistance from the 25 foot Buttcat Boat DRAGON reporting to have rescued a spear fisherman from the water after reportedly riding over him. He had suffered lacerations from being caught in the boat propellors off Skipskop.NSRI Agulhas launched the sea rescue craft VODACOM RESCUER VII, an NSRI rescue vehicle was dispatched, WC Government Health EMS, an Overberg Fire and Rescue Services rescue rubber duck, a Working On Fire helicopter and the Red Cross AMS Skymed rescue helicopter were activated to rendezvous with the boat DRAGON which was heading towards Arniston harbour.It was suspected that the boat DRAGON, which had launched earlier in the day from Struisbaai, may not be able to get into Arniston harbour due to her size and the condition of the patient was reported to be serious so the full scale rescue response was activated.It appears, from reports, that 29 year old Dennis Dempsey, from Durbanville, had been spear fishing off-shore with two friends. The boat crew has claimed to seeing a dive marker buoy but claimed to be well clear of any dive zone around the marker buoy and underway when they felt a bump and the spear fisherman surfaced injured. He was rescued onto the boat which immediately raised the alarm and headed towards the nearest harbour, Arniston.Arriving on scene, NSRI rescue swimmers waded out to the boat from the Arniston harbour slipway and carried the patient ashore.Paramedics treated the patient on the scene for lacerations to his back and to his buttocks and he has been transported to hospital by EMS ambulance in a stable condition.
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