Ivan Bauser, NSRI Gordon's Bay deputy station commander, said:At 14h53, Saturday, 05 October, NSRI Gordon's Bay and NSRI Kleinmond duty crews were activated following reports of 2 men who had gone missing while fishing from the shoreline at Rooi Els, between Gordon's Bay and Kleinmond, and it was suspected that they may have been swept off rocks by a wave.The sons of one of the missing men and a bystander on a weekend away with friends had initiated a search but only the missing mens fishing gear and personal items could be found on rocks where they had been fishing.The NSRI Gordon's Bay sea rescue craft Jack & Irene was launched and NSRI rescue swimmers in sea rescue vehicles from both NSRI Kleinmond and NSRI Gordon's Bay, WC Government Health EMS rescue squad and GB Med Security ambulance services responded.On arrival on the scene a sea and shoreline search commenced for 2 men who were missing, suspected to be missing in the surf after their fishing gear and personal items was found where they had been fishing indicating that they may have been swept off rocks by a wave.During a search one man was located off-shore in the surf and he was recovered onto the sea rescue craft and CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) efforts commenced and CPR continued on the man on the boat en route to the NSRI Gordons Bay sea rescue base.NSRI Kleinmond and NSRI Simon's Town launched sea rescue craft to join in the search.Paramedics were activated to respond to the NSRI Gordon's Bay sea rescue base to meet the sea rescue craft on its arrival.ER24 ambulance services, GB Med Security ambulance services and WC Government Health EMS responded to the NSRI Gordon's Bay sea rescue base and on the arrival of the sea rescue craft paramedics continued with advanced life support CPR but sadly after all efforts were exhausted the man was declared deceased.NSRI Gordon's Bay sea rescue craft Spirit of Surfski was launched and the sea rescue craft Jack & Irene returned to the scene to continue in the search.During an ongoing search the second man was located off-shore in the surf and he was recovered onto the sea rescue craft and CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) efforts commenced and CPR continued on the boat en route to the NSRI Gordon's Bay sea rescue base where on arrival paramedics continued with advanced life support CPR but sadly after all efforts were exhausted the man was declared deceased.It remains unknown if the men had both been swept off rocks by a wave as no eye-witnesses have come forward.Condolences are conveyed to the families.Police have opened an inquest docket.The bodies of the 2 deceased men, believed to both be from Macassar, have been taken into the care of the Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.
TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE