Man Recovered After Falling Out of a Boat

NSRI Port Alfred duty crew were activated following reports of a man missing in the Kowie River Mouth, Port Alfred.

A commercial fishing ski-boat, reportedly while launching to go to sea, through the Kowie River Mouth, after breaching over an incoming wave in the river mouth the man had lost his footing and fell overboard.

The fishing ski-boat skipper had no choice but to continue to motor his craft through the river mouth to the backline breakers to avoid his boat being compromised in the river mouth channel which would have risked his boat and the remaining crew - while raising the alarm.

Crew on the boat attempted to keep a visual on their fellow fisherman who was wearing a life-jacket. But in the sea swells sight of the man was lost.

Our NSRI Port Alfred duty crew responded to our NSRI Port Alfred station 11 rescue base where the NSRI craft Lotto Challenger and NSRI rescue craft JetRib Spirit of Kenton were launched.

We reached the river mouth at 06h54 where a search was initiated for the man.

Another commercial fishing ski-boat, that at that time was launching through the river mouth to go to sea, had spotted the man on rocks next to the Kowie River Pier.

Our rescue craft reached the man who, at 06h55, was recovered onto our rescue craft and he was brought to the marina jetty where, not injured, he required no further assistance.

NSRI commend the casualty boat skipper for following protocols to not stop in the river mouth and for all crew who were secured into their life-jackets and briefed on safety protocols before launching.

We commend the fellow boats, launching through the river mouth, for assisting NSRI in the search and the swift response by our NSRI Port Alfred rescue volunteers is commended.