Durban man missing after canoe capsizes in port

A Durban man remains missing, despite the efforts of emergency services and volunteers, after a canoe capsized in the city’s port.

The man, along with two others, was believed to be attempting to row the canoe between sandbanks in South Africa’s largest port when it capsized.

The National Sea Rescue Institute mobilized a rescue craft after receiving a report of the incident, responding alongside Police Search and Rescue, Metro Police Search and Rescue, Police Sea Borderline officers and Life Healthcare response EMS.

One of the men had managed to swim safely to shore by the time the NSRI rescue boat arrived while another had been rescued by a private vessel. There was no trace of the third man.

“At 11h36, Friday, 02 August, NSRI Durban duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) following reports of a canoe, with 3 local men onboard, capsized in the Port of Durban, between the Esplanade sandbank and Central sandbank in the channel,” NSRI Durban duty coxswain Paul Bevin said.

“Our sea rescue craft Alick Rennie was launched, The Durban Mariner safety boat, with an NSRI crewman who works at Durban Mariner and his colleague a Durban Mariner safety officer, onboard, and they responded, Police Search and Rescue, Metro Police Search and Rescue, Police Sea Borderline officers and Life Healthcare response EMS responded.

“On the NSRI rescue craft and the Durban Mariner safety boat arriving on the scene we found one man had been rescued by a private boat and he was safe, 1 man had managed to get safely ashore to the sandbank and 1 man was reported to be missing.

“The 2 survivors were taken onboard our sea rescue craft and brought to shore where Life Healthcare Response EMS paramedics assessed the patients who both suffered only minor injuries and chose to refuse any further medical attention and they were advised to consult their own doctor or emergency room if required later.”

Missing Durban man believed to be fishing

The three men were believed to be making their perilous journey in order to pump for cracker shrimp on the central sandbank in the Durban’s port.

Rescue divers free dived at the site where the Canoe capsized but were unable to locate any sign of the missing man. Police and emergency services have continued the search but as the sun set in Durban he still had not been located.

“The 2 survivors were taken onboard our sea rescue craft and brought to shore where Life Healthcare Response EMS paramedics assessed the patients who both suffered only minor injuries and chose to refuse any further medical attention and they were advised to consult their own doctor or emergency room if required later.” Bevis Added.

“An NSRI rescue swimmer free dived at the casualty canoe during a search for the missing man and Police divers and Metro Police divers conducted a scuba dive search and an extensive search of the harbour and shoreline was carried out.

“No sign of the missing man has been found despite an extensive search and Police will continue in an ongoing search and recovery operation and Police are investigating the incident.

:The 3 local men appear to be aged in their early 20’s and we believe they were using a canoe to get from Esplanade sandbanks to central sandbank, we believe to pump for cracker, when increasing wind conditions may have contributed to their craft capsizing.”

Thoughts are with the family of the missing man in this difficult time.