NSRI Gqeberha responded to assist in a rescue and recovery operation on Wednesday evening, 2 September, after a truck went into the water at Coega Port, Gqeberha, with the driver trapped inside.
Mark Dawson, NSRI Gqeberha station commander, said:
At 18h07, Wednesday, 2 September, NSRI Gqeberha duty crew were placed on alert following reports on the Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) water rescue committee of a manganese side tipper truck and trailer gone into the harbour, partially submerged under water, at Coega Port, Gqeberha.
NSRI crew stood by at the NSRI Gqeberha station 6 rescue base, prepared to launch rescue craft.
The SA Police Service, Police K9 Search and Rescue, Police Divers – Water Policing and Diving Service (WPDS), Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), Gqeberha Fire and Rescue Service, EC Government Health EMS, Relay ambulance service, Coastal Water Rescue, commercial divers and riggers, and representatives of the trucking company and the shipping agent, were in attendance.
It was believed that the driver, single occupant, was trapped in the cab of the truck under water.
At 21h46, NSRI Gqeberha was activated to respond and assist in the ongoing rescue and recovery operation, and the NSRI rescue craft Rescue 6 Alpha was launched.
On arrival on the scene, the NSRI rescue craft assisted, standing by as a safety vessel, while commercial divers and riggers rigged technical lifting apparatus to the truck, which was then recovered from the water.
During the recovery of the truck, the body of the adult male driver was located and recovered from the water and brought to shore aboard the NSRI rescue craft, and taken into the care of paramedics, where he was sadly declared deceased.
The body of the man was taken into the care of Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.
The cause of the accident is under investigation by Police and authorities. Police have opened an inquest docket.
Condolences are conveyed to the family of the deceased man.
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