Father and son rescued in DRAMATIC sea search

Father and son rescued in DRAMATIC sea search Photo: NSIR/Stock

Father and son rescued in DRAMATIC sea search

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said a father and son was rescued in a dramatic sea search that lasted more than two hours.

Father and son rescued in DRAMATIC sea search

Father and son rescued in DRAMATIC sea search Photo: NSIR/Stock

A father and son diving team was rescued in a dramatic sea search that lasted more than two hours on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal.

FATHER AND SON DRIFTED APART IN THE OPEN SEA

Gary Wolmarans, National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Shelly Beach station commander, said they received a call on Wednesday around 13:00 that two divers, a father, and a son, were missing.

The father and son were diving near Ramsgate when they went missing.

A father and son diving team who drifted apart in the open sea on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal was rescued during a dramatic joined search and rescue. Image: Guy Kawasaki

SON ATTEMPTED SWIMMING TO THE SEASHORE

Wolmarans said the father had separated from his son when the son attempted to swim to the seashore.

Wolmarans said the father and son were adrift at sea in their wetsuits and scuba dive gear.

THE FIRST SEA SEARCH FOR FATHER AND SON FAILED

The NSRI is a charity organisation that saves lives on South African waters – both coastal and inland.

Wolmarans said the crew members had searched the sea waters for over an hour before they raced to Ramsgate to raise the alarm.

COMMERCIAL, PRIVATE BOATS, AND AN AIRCRAFT JOINED THE SEA SEARCH


“Five local men, including skippers of private boats, members of Ramsgate Ski-boat club, and commercial skippers, joined the sea search.

He said they launched their search at sea in the last known position of the father and son while calling in for more help.”

ALL SHIPS AND VESSELS ASKED TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT

According to Wolmarans, it was estimated that the father and son would be drifting towards Port Edward, and speed was calculated.”

The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) instructed Telkom Maritime Radio Services to broadcast an all-ships alert for vessels in the vicinity looking for the father and son.

FATHER RESCUED BEFORE SON

Colonel Pine Pienaar of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF), a South African Air Force (SAAF) Commander, also operational coordination.

During the search for the father and son, NSRI Port Edward noticed a red distress flare activation at that location.

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“On arriving at that location at 14:37 the afternoon, they found the private boat Shot for Shot had located and recovered the father from the sea waters.”

Gary Wolmarans

He was about nine nautical miles South of where he had originally gone missing.”

FATHER AND SON FINALLY REUNITED AT SEA

Wolmarans said the NSRI Port Edward noticed one of the boats (that was engaged in the search), Vagabond, heading
towards the NSRI Port Edward rescue craft.

He said at 15:20, seven nautical miles offshore of Palm Springs, the son was located and rescued.

According to Wolmarans, the son was transferred onto the NSRI rescue craft, where he and his father were reunited with his dad in Port Edward.

The NSRI crew provided them with refreshments and some treatment for dehydration, hypothermia, and exhaustion.

Both were okay, requiring no further assistance,” Wolmarans said.

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