FALSE BAY:Update: Search for a missing fisherman:Despite an extensive search operation hopes have faded in the search for missing Jacob Jansen van Vuuren, 39, from Mossel Bay.A Police Dive Unit are briefed and Police have opened a missing persons report for investigation.Family of the missing man are being kept briefed and updated.On Saturday, 29th July, Mr. Jansen van Vuuren, visiting Gansbaai, launched a 3 meter white Crayfish Bakkie (small open fishing boat) and we believe to fish close in-shore off Gansbaai.At 16h45 he reported motor mechanical failure of the single outboard motor on his boat and requesting assistance from friends who launched a boat to assist him at 18h00 but after not being able to find him they raised the alarm and NSRI Hermanus were activated at 19h34.According to his friends he had stated that at 16h45 he was 1.5 nautical miles off-shore of Danger Point, Gansbaai.An extensive search by NSRI Hermanus during Saturday night and on Sunday, joined on Sunday by NSRI Simonstown and NSRI Gordons Bay, included 3 sea rescue craft and a fixed wing aircraft that was kindly volunteered by David Austin of African Wings, Stanford, and ships in the search area being requested by a Telkom Maritime Radio Services radio broadcast to keep a sharp look out but the search yielded no sign of the missing fisherman.Sea conditions were rough with wind speeds increasing to 40 knots Easterly and 4 to 5 meter swells in the search area during the search operation.MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) assisted in plotting a search area taking into account wind speeds and direction, sea drift and swells, and by Sunday late afternoon a search area had extended to some 29 nautical miles from where the fisherman was first believed to have been on Saturday afternoon.With only a life-jacket and no additional safety gear onboard the small open boat the cellphone battery appeared to have died by the time NSRI Hermanus were activated.NSRI commend all involved in the extensive search and the kind donation by African Wings for the fixed wing aircraft that was able to cover an extensive search area.NSRI continue to keep a vigil along the Cape Point coastline and ships at sea continue to be on the look-out.SEE ORIGINAL MEDIA RELEASE….
Deon Langenhoven, NSRI Hermanus station commander, said:NSRI Hermanus duty crew were activated at 19h34, Saturday, 29th July, following reports of a 39 year old Mossel Bay man missing on a 3 meter Crayfish Bakkie (small open fishing boat) off-shore of Gansbaai.It appears that the man had launched at Kleinbaai earlier in the day to go fishing and had called friends at 16h45 to report that his craft suffered motor mechanical failure 1.5 nautical miles off Danger Point, Gansbaai. The friends had launched a boat to assist him but after failing to find him the alarm was raised.NSRI Hermanus launched the sea rescue craft Jaytee III but despite an extensive sea and shoreline search no sign of the man was found and from first light, NSRI Hermanus resumed a search aboard Jaytee III and a fixed wing aircraft volunteered by David Austin of African Wings joined an extensive sea, shoreline and air search.By mid afternoon after still no sign of the missing man and the boat could be found and with sea conditions and strong winds making a search more challenging, NSRI Simon'S Town launched the deep sea rescue craft Spirit of Safmarine III and NSRI Gordons Bay launched the sea rescue craft Jack & Irene and a sea rescue vehicle was dispatched to Hangklip. An area South of Hangklip continues to be searched but with still no sign of the missing man and the boat located, a search is continuing.MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) are assisting to map the search area and Telkom Maritime Radio Services are assisting with communications and an all ships alert continues to be broadcast alerting vessels in the search area and vessels passing through the search area to be vigilant.
TABLE BAY: Marc de Vos, NSRI Table Bay coxswain, said:At 11h53, Sunday, 30th July, NSRI Table Bay duty crew were activated following a request for urgent assistance from the local boat Double Trouble reporting a group of fishermen on fishing kayaks in difficulty at Robben Island after wind strength picked up considerably.Our sea rescue craft Spirit of Day launched.NSRI Hout Bay crew were on a routine exercise in Hout Bay, with NSRI Bakoven crew members onboard their rescue craft. On learning of the emergency at Robben Island the NSRI Hout Bay sea rescue craft Nadine Gordimer and Albie Mathews diverted from the routine exercise and responded.We were informed that Double Trouble had picked up kayakers and were headed towards Three Anchor Bay and our sea rescue craft rendezvoused with a small rubber-duck off Three Anchor Bay. They had one of the kayakers onboard their craft and they confirmed that they required no assistance.We then rendezvoused with Double Trouble and they confirmed that the kayakers that they had onboard required no assistance and they would be dropped off at Three Anchor Bay by Double Trouble.We then located two of the fishermen on their fishing kayaks and they confirmed that they required no assistance.After no further assistance was required and all of the fishermen were reported to be safe NSRI Table Bay returned to base.
PLETTENBERG BAY:Marc Rodgers, NSRI Plettenberg Bay station commander, said:At 16h16, Saturday, 29th July, NSRI Plettenberg Bay medics assisted at a residence in Plettenberg Bay where a 60 year old local man suffered a heart attack.Med-Life ambulance services were also activated and following treatment on the scene the man was transported to hospital in a stable condition by ambulance.
CAMPS BAY BEACH: Bruce Davidson, NSRI Bakoven station commander, said:At the time that it was confirmed that the group of fishermen on their fishing kayaks were safe NSRI Bakoven were alerted at 12h24, Sunday, 30th July, to a suspected non-fatal drowning accident at Camps Bay Beach where a member of the public reported a 69 year old local man on the beach and safe but requiring medical care.It appears that the man had jumped into the surf to assist his 9 year old Grandson who appeared to be being swept out to sea by rip currents on a Body-Board.They both got out of the surf safely but the Grandfather was short of breath and in need of medical attention.The NSRI Hout Bay sea rescue craft that were responding towards Robben Island diverted to respond to Camps Bay beach and on arrival on the scene 3 NSRI rescue swimmers swam ashore and attended to the man on the beach.They were joined by Life Healthcare response paramedics and the man was treated on the scene and has made arrangements to go to his own doctor for further treatment.
TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE
