Lamberts Bay: 2 fishermen located deceased

At 18h45, Friday, 12 April, NSRI Lamberts Bay were alerted by Police to a fishing vessel overdue. Family members of 2 local fishermen, age 35 and 31, had alerted Police with concerns that the fishing vessel had not returned as expected.

NSRI Lamberts Bay investigated, in cooperation with Police, and although it was not clear where the 2 local men, on the open fishing boat, had gone fishing - it was suspected that they had gone fishing South of Lamberts Bay towards Elands Bay.

NSRI Launched rescue craft and initiated a search - a sweeping line search - from inshore up to 15 nautical miles offshore, between Lamberts Bay and Elands Bay.

NSRI duty controllers plotted search patterns.

Telkom Maritime Radio Services broadcast an all ships alert requesting vessels in the area to be on the lookout.

The SA Police Services assisted to gather information and assist in shoreline search efforts.

At around midnight the search was suspended and at first light on Saturday NSRI Lamberts Bay, NSRI St Helena Bay and NSRI Mykonos launched 2 NSRI rescue craft continuing in extensive search efforts in the vicinity of Elands Bay and Lamberts Bay, inshore and to deep sea.

At 19h26, on Saturday evening, NSRI were alerted by Police that a vessel, matching the description of the missing vessel, was located in shallow surf near to Muisbosskerm, on the West Coast.

Police and local community members on the scene assisted to recover the boat, that was found capsized in the surf, and to recover the bodies of the 2 local adult fishermen who were found nearby in shallow surf, sadly deceased.

NSRI attended at the scene.

The bodies of the 2 deceased men were taken into the care of Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.

Police have opened an Inquest docket.