Jerome Simonis, NSRI Knysna station commander, said:At 13h21, Wednesday, 04th July, NSRI Knysna duty crew were activated following a report from the restaurant staff at East Head Cafe who witnessed a boat capsize in the Knysna Heads, just North of Island Rock.Our NSRI duty crew responded to our sea rescue base and the sea rescue craft Eileen Meadway, Jaytee IV and Jolen were launched and we arrived on the scene within 7 minutes of being activated.NSRI shore crew including 2 NSRI station doctors responded to our sea rescue base to stand-by.ER24 ambulance services, WC Government Health EMS, SA Police Services, Knysna Fire and Rescue Services and SA National Park rangers had also been activated.All 11 people onboard the capsized charter 8.9 meter rigid inflatable boat Moonraker, of Knysna Rib Adventures, were rescued onto sea rescue craft and they were brought safely to shore to our sea rescue base where NSRI medical crew and our 2 NSRI doctors medically triaged patients and only 2 were found to be in need of medical care (a husband and wife, from The Netherlands, were treated for non-fatal drowning symptoms. The husband who also has a pre-existing medical condition, along with his wife, were transported to hospital as a precaution).Sea conditions were 3 to 4 meter swells.The casualty crew include a local male skipper and 8 male and 3 female tourists, 6 are from the Netherlands and 4 are from Germany.The remaining 8 tourists and the local skipper, are not injured, and the 8 tourists have been transported to their various respective lodgings in Knysna.The casualty boat has not been recovered and remains in rough waters at the Western side of Knysna Heads.Once sea conditions are favourable the owners will investigate recovery of the casualty boat.SAMSA (South African Maritime Safety Authority) will investigate the capsizing.NSRI can confirm that both the husband and wife transported to hospital are well and their release from hospital is imminant.
TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE
