Stephen Slade, NSRI Port Alfred deputy station commander, said:
At 07h07, Saturday, 23rd June, NSRI Port Alfred duty crew were activated following eye-witness reports of a boat appearing to be capsized in the Kowie River Mouth.
Our sea rescue craft Rescue 11 Alpha was launched and our NSRI rescue vehicle responded to stand-by at the beach side.
The SA Police Services and EC Government Health EMS also responded.
An approximately 5 meter boat was found in the surf line in 5 to 6 meter swells and rough sea conditions and despite an extensive search no sign of survivors were found and during ongoing investigations we determined that no eye-witness had physically seen the boat launching earlier.
We were able to track down the owner at his home and he was unaware of the incident and it has been determined that the boat may have broken her moorings earlier and drifted out the Kowie River Mouth and we have confirmed that the boat was unmanned.
It is suspected that the anchor is preventing the boat from washing ashore and only when sea conditions calm will efforts be made to recover the boat.
TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE
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