Cape Town - A MAN was rushed to hospital in a serious condition after the fishing vessel he was on caught fire in Gordons Bay harbour on Saturday.
National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Gordon’s Bay station commander Alan Meiklejohn said duty crew responded following reports of the fishing vessel on fire.
“NSRI crew, the Fire Department and emergency services arrived at the fishing vessel, moored at the harbour, where the fire had been extinguished and precautions were initiated to prevent the fire from flaring up on the fibreglass vessel,” he said.
Meiklejohn said an investigation was under way to determine the cause of the fire.
“While it appears that the fire started during the refuelling of the vessel, investigations by authorities will determine the cause,” he said.
Two fishermen were also rescued on Saturday after a massive wave swept over them, capsizing their 5 metre Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat while fishing in Vlakban.
The fishermen from Hout Bay and Noordhoek managed to fire off three red distress flares.
“The red distress flares were sighted from land by eye-witnesses and also sighted by the fishing chuckie (small open fishing boat), Bennie, that was fishing in the area at the time,” NSRI Agulhas station commander Reinard Geldenhuys said.
“NSRI Agulhas duty crew launched the sea rescue craft Spirit of Agulhas and rendezvoused with Bennie about four nautical miles off-shore. The crew of Bennie rescued both men on to their fishing boat.”
Geldenhuys said the two men were later medically assessed and there were no injuries reported.
Cape Times