Struisbaai – Sunday, 18 April. :Reinard Geldenhuys, NSRI Agulhas station commander, said:At 07h00, Sunday, 18 April, NSRI Agulhas duty crew were activated after receiving a call for a mass drowning in progress in Struisbaai harbour with multiple casualties reported to be in the water.NSRI Agulhas crew and rescue swimmers responded directly to the harbour with medical gear.WC Government Health EMS, SA Police Services and Overberg Fire and Rescue Services responded.On arrival on the scene it was found that 7 fishermen were already out of the water on the shore and all were accounted for after the tender boat that they were on had reportedly taken on water and capsized while ferrying fishermen to their fishing boats, Chukkies (small open fishing boats), at their moorings.We found bystander CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) efforts were in progress on one adult male.Sea Rescue crew took over CPR efforts which were joined by paramedics and extensive CPR efforts were continued until all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted and sadly he was declared deceased by a doctor on the scene.One man was treated for severe hypothermia and he was transported to hospital by EMS ambulance and he is recovering.The body of the deceased man has been taken into the care of WC Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.Police have opened an inquest docket.Condolences are conveyed to family, friends and colleagues of the deceased man.
