At 07h25 on Thursday the 3rd of November, NSRI Richards Bay duty crew were activated following reports of a man fallen between the Dolosse on the South Pier of the Port of Richards Bay.According to reports, the 59 year old local man was fishing on the South Pier when he fell. Fellow anglers raised the alarmNSRI Richards Bay dispatched a sea rescue vehicle with NSRI rescue crew and the SA Police Services, Police Search and Rescue, Police divers, the City of uMhlathuze Fire and Rescue Services and IPSS Ambulance and Rescue Services responded.The body of the man was recovered from in between the Dolosse in a technical rescue operation and he was declared deceased by paramedics and handed into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services. The Police have opened an inquest docket.At 15h11 NSRI Richards Bay launched their sea rescue craft Spirit of Richards Bay and Spirit of Round Table II following a request for assistance from the yacht Helen Margaret, with a Canadian solo sailor onboard, adrift in the channel and dragging anchor, suffering motor mechanical failure, just outside of the small craft harbour.
On arrival on the scene NSRI crew were transferred aboard the yacht and motor power was restored and NSRI escorted the yacht to a mooring at the small craft harbour and assisting to put the yacht to a safe mooring.A second yacht, Taima, with a Canadian couple onboard, at anchor outside the small craft harbour reported motor mechanical failure and NSRI Richards Bay went to their assistance and towed the yacht to a safe mooring without incident.
It is believed that both yachts arrived in Richards Bay from the Reunion Islands with a group of yachts at the same time.
TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE