Paternoster – Ongoing search for a missing fisherman:

A Police Dive Unit are continuing in an ongoing search for a fisherman who went missing off-shore at Paternoster.At 14h48, Thursday, 19 November, NSRI Mykonos duty crew were activated following reports of a fisherman missing at sea at Paternoster.The sea rescue craft Jacqueline and Spirit of Rotary - East London were towed to Paternoster and launched.The SA Police Services and their Police Dive Unit joined in the search and a Police Dive Unit craft was launched to assist in the search.Despite an extensive sea and shoreline search there was no sign found of the missing fisherman who is from Paternoster.It appears that while out fishing, their fishing boat, a Crayfish Bakkie, experienced fuel starvation when they were returning to shore. We believe that an oar fell out the boat and the fisherman may have jumped into the water to retrieve the oar when in 25 knot winds the boat drifted away from him and sight of the fisherman was lost.The fishing boat was towed to shore by a fellow fishing boat and the alarm was raised.The skipper of the casualty boat was not injured.Thoughts are with the family of the missing fisherman, his fellow fishermen and friends, in this difficult time. -ENDS-