Darius van Niekerk, Sea Rescue Mykonos station commander, said: “At 19h00, on Monday 26th July, our Mykonos Sea Rescue volunteers were activated following reports of a Crayfish Bakkie (Small open crayfish boat) reported to be overdue from fishing with 2 men onboard.

Sea Rescue Mykonos dispatched a land party to the scene to scour the shoreline and the Police Port of Entry Security, the SA Police Services and a large contingent of local fishermen began a search.

The search covered a 15 nautical mile stretch of the coastline.

Sea conditions were calm with a light wind.

At midnight NSRI Mykonos suspended a search, with no clear indication of where the men had been fishing, and the matter was handed over to Police and the Transnet Port Authority.

From first light today a 35 Squadron Dakota fixed wing aircraft from the SA Air Force (SAAF) was dispatched and NSRI Mykonos were requested by the Transnet Ports Authority to join in the continuing search.

At approximately 09h50, today, 27th July, one of the missing fishermen, 68 year old Ngwane Mncedisa, was found 3.5 nautical miles North West of Elands Point (also known as Bobbejaan Punt), clinging to the upturned hull of the capsized Crayfish Bakkie. He was found by a passing boat and he was brought ashore in a severe state of hypothermia and he has been transported to hospital by a Metro ambulance in a serious but stable condition.

Sea Rescue Mykonos, the SAAF 35 Squadron Dakota, the SA Police Services and local fishermen are continuing a search for the remaining missing fisherman.

It has been confirmed that neither of the men were wearing life-jackets.

Both fishermen are from Elands Bay.”

At 10h44 on 14 November 2009, NSRI Gordon’s Bay were activated to respond to Rooi Els following reports of a husband and wife in difficulty on a rocky outcrop at Rooi Els.

Mark Burton, NSRI Gordon’s Bay station commander, said that the NSRI volunteer duty crew immediately launched the rescue craft Douglas Murray, and the SA Police Services, the Metro Ambulance and Rescue Services and the Metro Red Cross AMS helicopter responded.

On arrival on-scene it was determined that the husband and wife had been fishing from a rocky outcrop at Rooi Els. It appears that the husband, a 40 year old male from Lotus River, may have fallen and drowned. His body was recovered onto the rocks by an NSRI rescue swimmer.

The 38 year old wife of the deceased man, suffering from severe shock, was guided to safety over the rocky shore by an NSRI and Metro Rescue team.

The body of the deceased man has been recovered from the scene and handed into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services and the SA Police Services.

The deceased man’s wife is in the care of Police Trauma Counsellors.