Darren Zimmerman, NSRI Simonstown station commander, said:
At 16h03, Thursday, 27th June, NSRI Simonstown duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) following reports from an SA Navy Patrol boat that had happened upon a 30 foot local boat from Kalk Bay capsized and adrift at sea off-shore of Simonstown, deep-sea in False Bay.
On investigation it was determined that 3 local men had launched the boat earlier in the day from Kalk Bay harbour and they were missing.
The sea rescue craft Spirit of Surfski II was launched to join the SA Navy Patrol boat searching for the 3 men and NSRI Kommetjie and NSRI Strandfontein launched sea rescue craft and the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter, WC Government Health EMS rescue squad and ambulance, CMR ambulance services, ER24 ambulance services, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services and their Fire Dive Unit, a Police Dive Unit, the SA Police Services and Law Enforcement responded to join in a search in 25 knot North Westerly winds and rough sea conditions and NSRI ASR (Airborne Sea Rescue) were placed on high alert.
During an extensive air, sea and shoreline search 2 of the missing men were located at sea clinging onto a floatation buoy at sea and they were recovered onto a sea rescue craft.
Sadly one of the men was declared deceased and one man was transported to hospital in a critical condition suffering hypothermia and he has been stabilised and is recovering in hospital.
Despite the extensive search no sign of the third man has been found and a Police Dive Unit are tasked to continue in a ongoing search operation.
The SA Navy ship SAS Protea joined the search and they are assisting NSRI Simonstown and NSRI Kommetjie together with Fire and Rescue services divers to recover the capsized casualty boat.
The body of the deceased man has been taken into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services.
It appears from preliminary investigations that the boat may have capsized from unknown causes at around midday.
Police have opened an inquest docket that will run in conjunction with a SAMSA (South African Maritime Safety Authority) investigation into this tragic incident.
Condolences are conveyed to family, friends and colleagues of the deceased man and thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of the missing man.
