The yacht Oryx as seen from the helicopter searching.
UPDATE 2: TUGELA - 20th June, 2015:
From 06h00 this morning, Saturday, 20th June, NSRI Durban were dispatched by Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) to continue an ongoing search operation for missing 58 year old Mrs Carly Hill, off theTugela River Mouth. (see original media release and updated media release below).
Telkom Maritime Radio Services are continuing to broadcast an all ships alert and from 06h00 today NSRI Durban dispatched a sea rescue vehicle to continue with the ongoing shoreline search in the area and the sea rescue craft EIKOS RESCUER II and MEGAN II continued searching on search areas and search patterns at sea plotted by MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) and the yacht ORYX joined in the search operation.
It had been confirmed to NSRI yesterday by the distraught husband and skipper, Mr Peter Hill, that all life-jackets were accounted for and remained onboard yacht ORYX and the search operation has focused on sea drift, prevailing currents and wind speed and direction, taking into account that at some time during the morning of Friday, while on routine watch, Mrs Hill fell overboard.
At the time of the incident yesterday all efforts were made by Mr Hill to find his missing wife and to raise the alarm.
Despite an extensive ongoing search operation by midday today there remained no sign of Mrs Hill and Police Search and Rescue have taken over the search operation. NSRI sea rescue craft and NSRI resources have returned to base.
Police have opened a missing persons investigation into the incident and SAMSA (South African Maritime Safety Authority) and the British Consulate have been informed.
Yacht ORYX will return to the Port of Durban.
Our deep condolences to Mr Hill and their family.
UPDATE: TUGELA - 19th June, 2015:By last light today no sign of a missing 58 year old woman has been found after she was reported missing off the yacht ORYX, 6 nautical miles off-shore of the Tugela River Mouth. The search continued until well after dark and shore, sea and air rescue resources deployed to search are returning to base.An extensive shore, air and sea search revealed no sign of the missing woman.The yacht ORYX has anchored in the vicinity and the skipper will join NSRI Durban to continue to search from first light.NSRI Durban will launch sea rescue craft at 06h00 on Saturday to be in the search area by sunrise to continue a search.
Original Release:
At 13h30 on Friday the 19th of June, NSRI Durban duty crew and NSRI Richards Bay duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) following a report of a woman missing off the yacht ORYX, six nautical miles off the Tugela River Mouth (between Durban and Richards Bay).
The skipper raised the alarm reporting that he had been asleep and when he awoke he found that his wife was missing off their yacht.
The yacht is sailing from Durban to Madagascar and departed from Durban yesterday with the two onboard.
Despite an initial search the skipper had found no sign of his wife.
The skipper of the yacht is from the United Kingdom and his missing wife is originally from Johannesburg.
NSRI Durban’s sea rescue craft EIKOS RESCUER II and MEGAN II, NSRI Richards Bay’s sea rescue craft SPIRIT OF RICHARDS BAY, sea rescue vehicles from Durban and from Richards Bay, a Natal Sharks Board fixed wing aircraft, a Durban TNPA rescue helicopter and a Richards Bay TNPA rescue helicopter, both accompanied by NSRI ASR rescue swimmers and an SA Air Force 15 Squadron Oryx helicopter, accompanied by NSRI ASR rescue swimmers, are deployed and are engaged in an extensive sea, shore and air search and rescue operation for the missing 58 year old woman.
-ENDS-
The Sea Rescue boat Megan II searching.
The SAAF Oryx helicopter searching for the missing woman with the yacht Oryx in the distance.
File photograph: Durban's Megan II, one of the Sea Rescue boats involved in the search for the missing woman.
