The National Sea Rescue Institute Durban crew responded to an emergency aboard a freight ship anchored off Durban on Thursday, but sadly the Master of the vessel died.
NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said it appeared the man had died of a heart attack.
Lambinon said NSRI Durban duty crew were alerted that the Master of the Ship Freight Margie had collapsed and was unconscious on board the vessel at anchorage 7 nautical miles offshore from the Port of Durban.
“The sea rescue craft Megan II was launched accompanied by Netcare 911 rescue paramedics. On arrival on the scene NSRI crew and the rescue paramedics were put aboard the vessel where the ship’s Captain, an Italian, was declared deceased by paramedics from a suspected heart attack,” said Lambinon.
The NSRI crew and a rescue paramedic stayed on board and the ship was brought into port where they were met by SAPS, Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) officials and the Forensic Pathology Services.
The body was taken into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services and an investigation opened by police, as is the protocol, said Lambinon.