Two drown after fishing boat capsizes in Kowie River mouth

Two fishermen drowned and two others were rescued when their boat capsized in heavy surf in the Kowie River mouth at Port Alfred. Picture: Port Alfred NSRI

Two fishermen drowned and two others were rescued when their boat capsized in heavy surf in the Kowie River mouth at Port Alfred. Picture: Port Alfred NSRI

Published Aug 19, 2017

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Port Alfred - Two fishermen drowned and two others were rescued when their boat capsized in heavy surf in the Kowie River mouth at Port Alfred early on Saturday morning, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said.

NSRI Port Alfred duty crew were activated at about 6:30am following reports of a boat capsized in the Kowie River mouth (harbour entrance), NSRI Port Alfred duty coxswain Keryn van der Walt said.

The sea rescue craft Rescue 11 Alpha was launched and NSRI rescue swimmers were dispatched to the beach. 

Ndlambe municipality officials, Eastern Cape government health emergency medical services (EMS), the SA Police Service, Ndlambe fire and rescue services, and Holistic ambulance services also responded.

"On arrival on the scene the 26-foot Butt-Cat Hawaii, a commercial fishing boat, was found capsized and washed onto a sand bank in a strong rip current in the outgoing spring tide in three to four metre swells," Van der Walt said.

Two fishermen drowned and two others were rescued when their boat capsized in heavy surf in the Kowie River mouth at Port Alfred. Picture: Port Alfred NSRI

"Our sea rescue craft was used to hold the boat on the sand bank in strong rip currents before the casualty boat could be recovered to the beach. An NSRI rescue swimmer was posted on the harbour wall to act as spotter during the operation."

Two male survivors, one the skipper of the boat, were found safe on the beach. "Sadly, one deceased adult male was located on the beach." 

Paramedics attended to the two survivors and they were then transported to hospital by ambulance in stable condition but suffering from shock.

It was confirmed that four men had been on the boat when she capsized while believed to be exiting the harbour mouth, Van der Walt said.

 

An extensive sea and shoreline search continued for the one missing man. During the search the NSRI crew aboard the sea rescue craft spotted the fourth man floating semi-submerged in the water 50 metres off-shore wearing a life-jacket. 

Two NSRI rescue swimmers were deployed into the surf from the sea rescue craft and they recovered the man onto the beach, but "sadly he has been declared deceased by paramedics". 

All four men were confirmed to be local commercial fishermen. NSRI and the emergency services extended sincere condolences to family, friends, and colleagues of the two dead fishermen.

"NSRI commend the quick response by emergency services and police who assisted by cordoning off the area, and to Willem Nel of the Ndlambe municipality for his assistance in searching along the beach during this tragic accident. Police have opened an inquest docket," Van der Walt said.

African News Agency

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