Ian Klopper, NSRI Kommetjie station commander, said; “At 11h30, Thursday, 09th April, NSRI Kommetjie and NSRI Simonstown were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) following reports of a Crayfish Bakkie (small open fishing boat), with 3 men onboard, capsized at Platboom, Cape Point, 14 nautical miles from Kommetjie.
“NSRI Kommetjie launched the sea rescue craft SPIRIT OF WINELANDS and NSRI Simonstown launched the sea rescue craft SPIRIT OF SAFMARINE III.
“On arrival on-scene we found the 3 fishermen, who had reportedly been clinging onto the upturned hull of their capsized boat for almost an hour, unable to raise an alarm, until a sister boat, in the area at the time, came to their aid and raised the alarm.
“Their capsized boat was lying in the kelp line, close in-shore, and the sister boat, with her 3 crew members and the 3 casualty crew were lying alongside the capsized boat having not wanted to risk getting out through the surf line heavy laden with all 6 people onboard and risk also being capsized.
“The 3 casualty crew members, all fishermen from Ocean View, ages 45, 28 and 18, were transferred onto SPIRIT OF WINELANDS and their boat was towed out of the surf line in the capsized position by SPIRIT OF WINELANDS and taken to the sea rescue craft SPIRIT OF SAFMARINE III, behind the breaker line, where she was righted.
“NSRI Kommetjie then took the 3 crew members to the slip way at the Crayfish Factory in Scarborough while NSRI Simonstown towed the casualty boat towards Scarborough and once all 3 fishermen, who were not injured except suffering from mild hypothermia, were off loaded at Scarborough, and shore NSRI crew assisted to warm them, NSRI Kommetjie returned to take over the tow from SPIRIT OF SAFMARINE III and the casualty boat was towed safely to the slip way at the Crayfish Factory by SPIRIT OF WINELANDS.
“It appears that the boat had capsized while they were Crayfishing at Platboom after taking a wave over the bow the boat, heavy laden with water, was capsized by the next wave.
“Once all safely ashore and their boat safely recovered no further assistance was required.”
