Rooi Els: 1 fisherman is missing, 1 fisherman deceased and 3 survivors after a fishing boat capsizes

NATIONAL SEA RESCUE INSTITUTE (NSRI) MEDIA RELEASE:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SEA RESCUE – NSRI – STATION 9, Gordons Bay. STATION 42, Kleinmond. STATION 29, ASR (Airborne Sea Rescue)

Thursday, 26 November 2020

1 fisherman is missing, 1 fisherman deceased and 3 survivors after a fishing boat capsizes

Alan Meiklejohn, NSRI Gordons Bay station commander, said:

At 12h48, Thursday, 26 November, NSRI Gordons Bay duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) following reports of a 23 foot fishing boat capsized off-shore at Rooi Els.

The NSRI Gordons Bay sea rescue craft Jack and Irene and the NSRI Kleinmond sea rescue craft Jaytee III were launched and responded to the scene.

Sea Rescue vehicles from NSRI Gordons Bay and from NSRI Kleinmond, WC Government Health EMS rescue squad, the SA Police Services, GB Med Sec ambulance services, Overberg Fire and Rescue Services and the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter, with an EMS rescue diver onboard, responded.

On arrival on the scene it was confirmed that 5 adult male fishermen, believed to all be from Mitchell's Plain, were on a local fishing boat that capsized in the surf just off-shore of Rooi Els.

3 of the fishermen had managed to reach the shoreline safely and they were not injured.

A search commenced for 2 fishermen who were missing and who were not accounted for.

During the search one of the missing fishermen was located in the surf and he was recovered onto a sea rescue craft and sadly the fisherman, age 48, has been declared deceased.

A Police Dive Unit responded and a dive search was conducted.

Despite an extensive sea, air and shoreline search there remains no sign of the remaining one missing fisherman.

Police divers are tasked to continue in an ongoing search operation for the missing fisherman.

The casualty boat remains washed up in amongst rocks on the shoreline.

The body of the deceased fisherman was brought to the NSRI Gordons Bay sea rescue station and the body of the man has been taken into the care of WC Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.

Police have opened an inquest docket.

Condolences are conveyed to the family, colleagues and friends of the deceased fisherman.

Our thoughts are with the family of the missing fisherman in this difficult time.

-ENDS-

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is the charity organisation that saves lives on South African waters – both coastal and inland. Our goal is to prevent drowning through rescue operations, education and prevention initiatives.

Operating from base stations along the SA coastline, and on inland dams, our rescue volunteers are on call, at all hours, every day of the year. Our rescue crew receives no payment and neither do we charge the people we rescue.

We visit schools around the country, teaching children about water safety. Our drowning prevention measures include our online training academy, with free courses for crew and the public, emergency signage, Pink Rescue Buoys for emergency flotation, rescue swimmers, lifeguards, and active patrols during peak seasons.

Our organisation is totally reliant on donations and sponsorships. This enables us to do the work of saving lives, changing lives, and creating futures.

You can do your bit to assist. Please visit www.nsri.org.za for more information.

SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY: 112 or 087 094 9774

Released by:

Craig Lambinon

SEA RESCUE COMMUNICATIONS

Email: communications@searescue.org.za | Cell: +27 (0) 82 380 3800 | www.searescue.org.za