Fisherman missing after collision

CAPE POINT:

At 18h18, Saturday, 21st May, NSRI Simonstown duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) following a request for assistance from the local boat Attitude, returning from fishing, with 4 adult males onboard, all from Fish Hoek, reporting to have run out of outboard motor oil and requesting oil to be brought to them South of Cape Point.

The wife of one of the men brought outboard oil to the sea rescue base in Simonstown and the Sea Rescue craft Spirit of Surfski II was launched.

On arrival on the scene, 5.5 nautical miles South of Cape Point, their motors were given fresh oil by NSRI and they followed the sea rescue craft home to Simonstown without incident.

WITSAND:

At 06h50, Sunday, 22nd May, NSRI Witsand duty crew launched their sea rescue craft Breede Rescuer to respond to 15 nautical miles East of Witsand following reports from an angler, a credible witness, who saw 5 red distress flares being fired in succession off-shore of Duivenhoks River.

Despite an extensive sea and shoreline search no sign of any vessel or persons in distress could be found and the flares activation remains a mystery.

No reports of anyone overdue or missing has been reported and the flare activation will be labelled a false alarm from an unknown source.

LAMBERTS BAY:

At 11h30, Sunday, 22nd May, NSRI Lamberts Bay launched the sea rescue craft Douglas Murray following reports from the private fishing dinghy Demar whose skipper reported coming across a 49 year old fisherman hanging onto the capsized fishing dinghy Henly, 8 nautical miles from Lamberts Bay and 4 nautical miles off-shore.

The surviving fisherman reported that earlier in the day, while fishing, at approximately 08h00 the fishing boat Silver Bounty had reportedly run over their boat Henly but had appeared to continue on her way and it is suspected that without the crew of Silver Bounty noticing that they had run over the dinghy.

The 49 year old surviver and his 37 year old fishing colleague, both local men, were flung out of their boat which capsized and they had hung onto their capsized boat for at least 2 hours before the 37 year old reportedly succumbed to the elements and it is suspected that he may have drowned.

The boat Demar happened upon the capsized boat and rescued the 49 year old man from the water and raised the alarm. Demar brought the 49 year old man to Lamberts Bay harbour and he was not injured.

NSRI Lamberts Bay duty crew responded to the scene and searched for the missing 37 year old fisherman who is believed to be one of twins but despite an extensive search no sign of the missing fisherman has been found.

The Police Dive Unit have been notified and Police will continue an ongoing search operation for the missing man.

SAMSA (South African Maritime Safety Authority) are investigating.