Spear fisherman injured in Ballito

At 06h15, Saturday, 31 January, NSRI Ballito duty crew and IPSS Medical Rescue were activated to respond to Salmon Bay ski-boat club following reports of a male spear-fisherman injured in a boating accident at Christmas Bay.

NSRI rescue crew and IPSS paramedics responded.

On arrival on the scene NSRI medics assisted to transport a local 37 year old man to IPSS paramedics waiting nearby.

The man had injuries sustained by boat propellors and he had been treated for his injuries by a charter fishing boat crew.

The patient, in good spirits, was transported to hospital by IPSS ambulance, in a stable condition, where he is recovering in the care of doctors and nurses.

It appears that the man was spear-fishing and, although he had a marker buoy indicating his position in the water, a local charter fishing boat, in the morning sun glare had not seen the marker buoy and their boat had collided with the spear-fisherman.

The skipper and crew of the charter fishing boat recovered the man from the water providing medical care and raising the alarm before bringing the man ashore at Salmon Bay where they were met by NSRI Ballito crew and IPSS paramedics.

The skipper and crew of the charter fishing boat are commended for their swift actions in recovering the fisherman from the water, providing first-aid to the man, and for swiftly raising the alarm.