Struisbaai: One man dead another hospitalised after tender boat capsizes

A tender boat carrying seven fishermen capsized near Struisbaai with one of them drowning fatally and another being treated for hypothermia.

Sea Rescue services arrived on the scene after all seven men had made it to the shore but arrived too late to save an adult male.

One man dead after boat capsizes near Struisbaai

Reinard Geldenhuys, NSRI Agulhas station commander, said: “At 07h00, Sunday, 18 April, NSRI Agulhas duty crew were activated after receiving a call for a mass drowning in progress in Struisbaai harbour with multiple casualties reported to be in the water.

“NSRI Agulhas crew and rescue swimmers responded directly to the harbour with medical gear.

“WC Government Health EMS, SA Police Services and Overberg Fire and Rescue Services responded.

“On arrival on the scene it was found that 7 fishermen were already out of the water on the shore and all were accounted for after the tender boat that they were on had reportedly taken on water and capsized while ferrying fishermen to their fishing boats, Chukkies (small open fishing boats), at their moorings.

“We found bystander CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) efforts were in progress on one adult male.

“Sea Rescue crew took over CPR efforts which were joined by paramedics and extensive CPR efforts were continued until all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted and sadly he was declared deceased by a doctor on the scene.

“One man was treated for severe hypothermia and he was transported to hospital by EMS ambulance and he is recovering.”

The South African Police Service will investigate the death after the opening after a death inquest docket, as is standard in all such incidents.

“The body of the deceased man has been taken into the care of WC Government Health Forensic Pathology Services,” Geldenhuys added.

“Police have opened an inquest docket.

“Condolences are conveyed to family, friends and colleagues of the deceased man.”

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is the charity organisation that saves lives on South African waters – both coastal and inland. Their goal is to prevent drowning through rescue operations, education and prevention initiatives.

Operating from base stations along the SA coastline, and on inland dams, their rescue volunteers are on call, at all hours, every day of the year. Our rescue crew receives no payment and neither do we charge the people we rescue.
 
They visit schools around the country, teaching children about water safety. Their drowning prevention measures include an online training academy, with free courses for crew and the public, emergency signage, Pink Rescue Buoys for emergency flotation, rescue swimmers, lifeguards, and active patrols during peak seasons.
Their organisation is totally reliant on donations and sponsorships. This enables us to do the work of saving lives, changing lives, and creating futures.

You can do your bit to assist. Please visit www.nsri.org.za for more information.