Paula Leech, NSRI Table Bay duty controller, said:
At 05h46, NSRI Table Bay duty crew dispatched sea rescue duty crew rescue swimmers and medics to the Three Anchor Bay promenade following reports of a man on rocks in the water below the Three Anchor Bay promenade wall.
The SA Police Services, Community medics and WC Government Health EMS were activated.
On our arrival on the scene we found a bystander Peter Ascham at a harness that was tied to the promenade railings and attached to a bystander Ali Gaffoor. Ali was in the water below the promenade wall after trying to rescue an unidentified man who had been swept off the rocks.
It appears that Peter, who was walking his dog on the promenade, had noticed the unidentified man in the water, on rocks below the promenade wall, shouting for help. It is not known how or why the man shouting for help was where he was.
Peter, not having a cellphone with him, summoned the assistance of a passing cyclist, Ali, and they raised the alarm while they tethered a harness together and Ali went over the wall to try to assist the unidentified man but the unidentified man had then been swept off the rocks and he was being swept out to sea and out of reach of Ali.
NSRI rescue swimmer Graham Watson swam out to the unidentified man who had been swept approximately 100 meters out to sea and Graham rescued the man bringing him to the promenade wall where NSRI rescue swimmer Mark de Vos, assisted by Ali, who had remained below the wall, and using a harness the unidentified man was lifted up to the promenade where NSRI medics initiated CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) and they were joined by EMS paramedics but after all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted he was declared deceased.
The body of the man was taken into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services and Police have opened an inquest docket.
Peter and Ali are commended for their efforts in trying to rescue the unidentified man.
