ST LUCIA - A spear fisherman is believed to have drowned near St Lucia on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast, the National Sea Rescue Institute said on Sunday.
NSRI St Lucia duty crew were activated shortly after 3pm on Saturday afternoon following reports of a free dive spear fisherman missing off-shore of Cape Vidal, NSRI St Lucia station commander Jan Hoffman said.
"Our Discovery Rescue Runner was towed to Cape Vidal and launched. We rendezvoused with the crew of a dive boat who confirmed that the 38-year-old Pietermaritzburg spear fisherman had been located deceased and recovered after reportedly suffering a fatal drowning accident."
The South African Police Service were alerted and an inquest docket had been opened.
"Condolences are conveyed to family and friends of the deceased man," Hoffman said.