Calls for Gordon's Bay and Hermanus

ROOI ELS:At 09h03, Saturday, 21st November, NSRI Gordons Bay and NSRI Hermanus duty crews were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) following eye-witness reports of a drowning in progress at Rooi Els, between Hermanus and Gordons Bay. NSRI Gordons Bay launched the sea rescue craft Spirit of Surfski and NSRI Hermanus towed their sea rescue craft Spirit of Le Jenmar II to be launched on the scene.The WC Government Health EMS, SA Police Services and the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter responded.On arrival on-scene, following a search, the Skymed rescue helicopter crew spotted the body of a man floating in rough surf conditions.An EMS rescue diver was deployed into the surf from the helicopter to secure the body but rough sea conditions prevented the rescuer and the body to be hoisted by the helicopter to shore and on the arrival of the sea rescue craft Spirit of Surfski the body of the man was recovered from the water onto the sea rescue craft and confirmed to be deceased and suspected that the cause of death was from fatal drowning.The body was brought to the sea rescue base in Gordons bay and handed into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services and Police.Police have opened an inquest docket.It is believed that the 37 year old man from Ravensmead was crawfishing. It appears, according to eye-witness accounts that a crayfish trap got stuck in amongst rocks and while trying to recover the crayfish trap a wave washed over the rocks and swept the man into the surf.HERMANUSAt 15h35, Saturday, 21st November, members of the NSRI Hermanus duty crew responded to Dreunkrans, between Hermanus town and the New Harbour, following reports of a man believed to be in difficulty in the water after reportedly jumping off rocks, rocks that are known to be popular where people jump into the sea.Rough sea conditions hampered the man from swimming back to shore and at times he risked being battered into rocks by the incoming swells but he managed to get out of the water safely unassisted.Despite NSRI suggesting to the man to refrain from jumping into the sea because of the rough sea swells the man again jumped off Dreunkrans and again faced an arduous task to get out of the water again risking injury.Fortunately the man eventually managed to swim to shore and fortunately he refrained from jumping into the sea again and no assistance was required.The local man is aged in his early 20’s.TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONESMS 32287 (R1/SMS) with your name and a message of support for our Sea Rescue crew