The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) responded to an alert that a 73-year-old fisherman from Mossel Bay was suffering a medical complaint off-shore between Agulhas and Hermanus in the early hours of Sunday morning.
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The NSRI EOC, Hermanus and Agulhas duty controllers coordinated with WC Government Health EMS metro control and an EMS duty doctor to assist the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in executing the rescue operation just after 4am.
In cooperation with MRCC, the fishing vessel began making its way towards Hermanus, where a medical evacuation was being prepared.
On the way, however, crew members aboard the fishing vessel reported that the 73-year-old fisherman had sadly passed away.
An NSRI Hermanus rescue craft transported EMS rescue paramedics to the fishing vessel, where the man was declared deceased as a result of a medical condition.
The body was recovered and brought back to Hermanus by two police detectives who were ferried by NSRI and taken into the care of government health forensic pathology services.
Our sincerest condolences to the loved ones of the deceased fisherman.
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