Multiple Capsizes in Port Alfred: Four Injured at Kowie River Mouth, Two Rescued Off East Beach

Chris Pike, NSRI Port Alfred coxswain, said: At 09h45, Friday, 19 December, NSRI Port Alfred duty crew were activated following eyewitness reports of a boat capsized in the Kowie River Mouth with 4 people onboard reported to be in the water.

Our NSRI duty crew responded to our NSRI Port Alfred station 11 rescue base where the NSRI rescue craft Lotto Challenger and Rescue 11 Alpha were launched.

Gardmed ambulance services responded.

NSRI rescue swimmers and our NSRI rescue vehicle responded to the East Pier.

On arrival on the scene, we found all 4 casualties accounted for on the shore on rocks below East Pier.

An NSRI rescue craft took 3 casualties onboard, a man, age 37, and 2 men, both age 43, and they were transferred onto a local private boat.

An NSRI paramedic and NSRI medics were transferred onto the private boat rendering medical assistance to a 43 year old male who had sustained injuries.

The private boat brought them to our NSRI rescue base.

A lady, age 29, was assisted onto East Pier by NSRI crew, assisted by bystanders, and she was treated for injuries and brought to the NSRI rescue base.

All 4 casualties are from Germiston.

The 43 year old male patient and the 29 year old female patient were taken into the care of paramedics, and they were transported to hospital by Gardmed ambulance, both in stable conditions.

Using an NSRI rescue craft we were able to right the capsized casualty boat that was brought to the slipway and recovered.

It appears that the boat was capsized by waves in the Kowie River Mouth where we believe a local surfer had assisted to guide the casualties, who were in the water, to rocks below East Pier.

The private boat that assisted has been commended for their efforts.

Juan Pretorius, NSRI Port Alfred coxswain, said:

At 08h18, Saturday, 20 December, NSRI Port Alfred duty crew were activated following reports of a jet-ski, with 2 persons onboard, capsized offshore of East Beach.

Our NSRI duty crew responded to our NSRI Port Alfred station 11 rescue base where the NSRI craft Rescue 11 Alpha was launched.

NSRI rescue swimmers and our NSRI rescue vehicle responded to the East Beach.

On arrival on the scene NSRI rescue swimmers were deployed from the rescue craft into the surf zone who assisted the dad, age 52 and his son, age 16, from Pretoria, safely to the beach and their jet ski /was recovered.

They were not injured, and no further assistance was required.