At 06h49, Saturday, 16 April, NSRI Gqeberha duty crew were activated following eye-witness reports of a boat in distress in the Swartkops River Mouth and the eye-witness could see one man in distress in the water.
Stephen van den Berg, NSRI Gqeberha duty coxswain, said:
The sea rescue craft Spirit of Surfski 4 and our NSRI Jet-Rib were launched.
NSRI rescue swimmers responded by road in their private vehicles and our NSRI rescue vehicle responded.
SA Police Services, Blue Water Bay lifeguards, Gqeberha Beach Office, Gardmed ambulance services and Coastal Water Rescue responded.
Blue Water Bay lifeguards launched their rescue RHIB (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat) and the Beach Office launched a rescue jet-ski.
Blue Water Bay lifeguards rescue craft reached the 45 year old local man in the surfline in the river mouth and rescued him onto their rescue craft and he was brought to shore.
Sadly his dog was found washed up on the beach deceased.
The man was taken into the care of Gardmed paramedics.
It appears that his river boat craft may have broken anchor, while the man may have been asleep below deck, drifting towards the river mouth in an outgoing tide and capsized in the river mouth.
The river boat was recovered.
Our thoughts are with the man and his family following the sad loss of their canine.
Blue Water Bay lifeguards are commended for successfully rescuing the man saving his life.
Incidents around the coastline and inland
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