Survivor Rescued, Skipper Missing After Fishing Boat Capsizes Near Bellows Rock

Darren Zimmerman, NSRI Simonstown duty coxswain, said: At 13h34, Saturday, 22 February, NSRI Simonstown duty crew were activated following reports from Ski Boat Mobile (monitoring fishing vessels off Cape Point) of a local fishing craft that had happened upon a small fishing ski-boat capsized offshore of Bellows Rock - South West of Cape Point - approximately 5 nautical miles offshore of Cape Point where they had recovered one survivor, who had been found clinging onto the upturned hull of the capsized craft, and reporting one adult male missing.

Darren Zimmerman, NSRI Simonstown duty coxswain, said:

At 13h34, Saturday, 22 February, NSRI Simonstown duty crew were activated following reports from Ski Boat Mobile (monitoring fishing vessels off Cape Point) of a local fishing craft that had happened upon a small fishing ski-boat capsized offshore of Bellows Rock - South West of Cape Point - approximately 5 nautical miles offshore of Cape Point where they had recovered one survivor, who had been found clinging onto the upturned hull of the capsized craft, and reporting one adult male missing.

The local ski-boat had initiated a search for the missing man and was joined by at least an additional 4 local fishing craft and fishing vessels that had responded to requests for assistance.

The NSRI Simonstown rescue craft Donna Nicholas and Jack&Irene were launched.

NSRI Hout Bay were activated and they launched the NSRI rescue craft Nadine Gordimer and Albie Matthews.

The SA Police Services, SAPS Water Policing and Diving Services, WC Government Health EMS, TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority), Telkom Maritime Radio Services and MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre), were alerted.

An all ships alert was broadcast on Marine VHF radio by Telkom Maritime Radio Services requesting all vessels in the area to keep a sharp lookout.

The "Eye in the Sky" EPIC Command surveillance aircraft, operated by the City of Cape Town (CoCT) Safety and Security Directorate, was activated in cooperation with NSRI, CoCT and MRCC.

On arrival on the scene the local adult male survivor was transferred onto the NSRI Simonstown deep sea rescue craft where he was treated for hypothermia and injuries while extensive sea and aerial search efforts were coordinated by NSRI in cooperation with advanced technology search coordinates provided by NSRI Kommetjie, taking into account calm seas and light Easterly wind conditions.

The survivor recounted that they, the missing skipper and the survivor, had launched earlier at around 05h00 at Millers Point, near to Simonstown, to go fishing on a small fishing ski-boat when, in the vicinity South of Bellows Rock, their craft had capsized in light waves.

Both men, the local skipper, age 37, and the local male survivor, age 40, clung onto the upturned hull of the capsized boat before the missing man had reportedly attempted to swim towards the shoreline and he has not been seen since. He was not wearing a life-jacket and reportedly he used a fuel tank as floatation in his attempts to swim towards the shoreline. The fuel tank was located and recovered.

Despite the extensive air and sea search there remains no signs of the missing man.

The survivor was brought to the NSRI Simonstown station 10 rescue base where he was medically assessed by CMR (Cape Medical Response) paramedics. Suffering injuries and exhaustion, and rewarmed from hypothermia, he was released into the care of family.

An investigation has been opened by Police and SAMSA (South African Maritime Safety Authority).

SAPS Water Policing and Diving Services and Police Sea Borderline Control are alerted.

NSRI are appealing to the local Maritime community, commercial and recreational fishermen, and vessels passing through the search area, to be vigilant and to keep a sharp lookout in the vicinity of Bellows Rock, 4 nautical South West of Cape Point and South of Bellows Rock.

An all ships alert continues to broadcast on Marine VHF radio by Telkom Maritime Radio Services requesting all vessels in the area to keep a sharp lookout.

Thoughts, care and compassion are with the family and friends of the missing man.