At 1:50am on Tuesday, 8 August 2023, The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Mossel Bay received an alert from Telkom Maritime Radio Services about a May Day distress call on VHF marine radio.
The call, originating from the Gouritz area on the Cape coastline, lacked detailed information. The vessel’s name, location, and number of people on board remained unclear.
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Efforts to communicate with the vessel via VHF marine radio were unsuccessful, and a fishing vessel in the Gouritz area also received a partial May Day distress call. Two local fishing vessels initiated a search at sea, while MRCC, TNPA, NSRI EOC, and Telkom Maritime Radio Services cooperated to gather more information.
An NSRI Mossel Bay rescue vehicle and Mossel Bay Fire and Rescue Services launched a shoreline search in both west and east directions from Gouritz River Mouth.
NSRI was joined by local Gouritz CPF members. Unfortunately, no cellphone signal or radio communication could be established in the area west of the Gouritz River Mouth.
During the search, the NSRI rescue vehicle crew discovered a local fishing trawler washed up on rocks around 3am, approximately 5km west of the Gouritz River Mouth. The skipper was found on rocks in shallow surf and reported attempting CPR on one of the six crew members. Unfortunately, this area was soon inundated by high tide.
The skipper confirmed a total of seven individuals on board. One crewman’s cries for help were heard from the damaged vessel, battered by waves. An NSRI rescue swimmer successfully retrieved the crewman in rough seas, and both the skipper and the rescued crewman were treated for hypothermia.
The searching fishing boat alerted Telkom Maritime Radio Services to the casualty fishing vessel’s location. An NSRI member drove to obtain a cellphone signal and raise the alarm, requesting additional rescue services.
Teams from SA Police Services, WC Government Health EMS rescue squad and ambulance, NSRI Mossel Bay, NSRI Still Bay, Mossel Bay Fire and Rescue Services and Gouritz CPF members joined the scene. Throughout the ongoing search, four bodies were found and recovered from the surf line, while one individual remains missing.
A Police Dive Unit, EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter and multiple NSRI rescue craft were activated. Despite an extensive sea, air and shoreline search, no trace of the missing fisherman was found.
The skipper and rescued crewman were transported to the hospital via EMS ambulance. Government Forensic Pathology Services took custody of the deceased bodies and SAMSA initiated an investigation while Police opened an Inquest Docket.
The exact cause of the vessel running aground on rocks remains undetermined.
The search continues for the missing fisherman, and all seven crew members were adults believed to be local men.
The NSRI extends its condolences to the families of the deceased, and thoughts are with the missing man’s family.
This operation remains ongoing.
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