Boat capsized in Durban

At 10h13, Thursday, 29 July, NSRI Durban duty crew were activated following eye-witness reports of a boat capsized 500 meters off-shore of Virginia Beach.

Tim Edwards, NSRI Durban duty coxswain, said:

NSRI rescue swimmers, Police Search and Rescue, Metro Police Search and Rescue, Emer-G-Med ambulance services, Umhlanga pro lifeguards and Mike Raubenheimer of SA Lifeguards responded directly to the scene while NSRI Durban duty crew responded to the NSRI Durban sea rescue base where the sea rescue craft Spirit of Surfski 6 was launched.

On arrival on the scene a 67 year old local man was found injured on the beach after he had managed to swim to shore when his 5.5 meter Ski-Vee boat capsized.

The casualty boat was washing ashore and it was determined that the injured man was the only occupant of the casualty boat.

Paramedics treated the man on the scene and he was transported to hospital by Emer-G-Med ambulance in a stable condition and he is expected to make a full recovery.

Mike Raubenheimer swam out to meet our sea rescue craft in the surfline and he swam a towline to shore from the sea rescue craft where, assisted by NSRI rescue swimmers and by Umhlanga lifeguards, the casualty boat was righted in shallow surf and the casualty boat was towed out to sea by the sea rescue craft and then towed to Vetchies slipway where the casualty boat was recovered.

No further assistance was required.

NSRI commend all emergency services for their swift response and for their assistance and in particular Mike Raubenheimer for his assistance on the scene.