Donate Shop Find a Base Call for Help Now

NSRI EMERGENCY
OPERATION CENTRE (EOC)

087 094 9774

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding an incident at the Port of Table Bay, Duncan Docks, on Thursday.

At 10h05, Thursday, 4 December, NSRI Table Bay duty crew, CoCT (City of Cape Town) water rescue network and Police were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at D-Berth, Duncan Dock, Port of Table Bay, Cape Town.

NSRI rescue swimmers, TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority), the SA Police Services, Netcare 911 ambulance services, WC Government Health EMS, ER24 ambulance services, Taurus Medical ambulance services, CoCT Law Enforcement and Police WPDS (Water Policing and Diving Services) responded.

On arrival on the scene a 5 year old male child was found to be safe in the care of Good Samaritan bystanders and he was taken into the care of paramedics and transported to hospital by Netcare 911 ambulance in a stable condition.

A search commenced in the water for an adult male, believed to be the dad of the child, who had reportedly gone missing in the water in undetermined circumstances - that are being investigated by Police.

During free dive search efforts an NSRI rescue swimmer located and secured the body of the adult male in the water that was recovered from the water onto a Police WPDS boat, by Police divers (WPDS), assisted by NSRI rescue swimmers, and the body was brought ashore.

Sadly the adult man was declared deceased and the body of the man has been taken into the care of Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.

It remains unclear the circumstances of the incident. Police, in cooperation with the Port of Table Bay TNPA authorities, are investigating the circumstances leading up to the incident and an Inquest docket has been opened by Police.

Condolences are conveyed to the family of the deceased man.

Next Article

NSRI Advisory: Spring Tides and Coastal Safety Precautions:

Read More

You may also like

Durban rescue 12jan2026
RESCUES  | Published: 13 January 2026

Medical evacuation operation at sea and a ski-boat assisted

At 13h45 on Saturday, 10 January, NSRI Durban duty controllers were alerted by a ship’s agent to an American-flagged heavy-lift motor vessel requesting a medical evacuation of a 58-year-old male Chief Engineer suffering from a cardiac condition. ...

Gqeberha fire 12jan2026
RESCUES  | Published: 13 January 2026

21 fishermen saved after their vessel caught fire

At 17h52, Monday, 12 January, NSRI Gqeberha duty crew were activated following a public member eyewitness reporting to NSRI's EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), via the 112 national emergency number, of a fishing vessel ablaze approximately 1 nautical mile offshore of Noordhoek, Gqeberha. ...

Yzerfonteinbeach
RESCUES  | Published: 12 January 2026

2 teens self rescue in Yzerfontein

At 15h09, Friday, 9 January, NSRI Yzerfontein duty crew were activated following an eyewitness who was concerned for 2 males who were appearing to be in distress in the surf zone at Swem Gat, Pearl Bay Beach, Yzerfontein. ...