Gqeberha – 5 safe after boat capsizes

At 09h04, Friday, 18 November, NSRI Gqeberha duty crew were activated following reports of a boat capsized at Noordhoek.

NSRI crew responded to our NSRI rescue station in the Port of Port Elizabeth where the NSRI rescue craft Rescue 6 Alpha was launched. NSRI crew responded to our NSRI Noordhoek satellite rescue station where the NSRI rescue craft Eddie Beaumont II was launched.

Our NSRI rescue vehicle, SA Police Services, a Police Dive Unit, a Police K9 Search and Rescue Unit, EC Government Health EMS, Coastal Water Rescue, NMB (Nelson Mandela Bay) Beach Office and NMB lifeguards responded.

NMB lifeguards launched a rescue jet ski at Noordhoek.

While responding to the scene it was confirmed that 5 casualties were in the water at a capsized RHIB (rigid hull inflatable boat) that had capsized 3 nautical miles West of Noordhoek, half a nautical mile off-shore.

On arrival on the scene the skipper, an adult male, was found to have safely swum to shore.

4 adult males were found clinging to the upturned hull of their capsized casualty craft.

All 5 crew were accounted for.

NSRI rescue swimmers were deployed from our NSRI rescue craft into the water at the capsized casualty craft.

2 of the casualties were rescued onto an NSRI rescue craft.

2 NSRI rescue swimmers and 2 of the casualty crew remained in the water where they assisted the NSRI rescue craft to right the casualty craft.

Once the casualty craft was righted they were taken onboard, a towline was established from an NSRI rescue craft and the casualty craft was towed to shore where the craft was recovered.

There were no injuries and no further assistance was required.

The swift response is commended.