The deceased body of a fisherman who went missing earlier in the week was discovered in the surf near the Hermanus New Harbour.
On Wednesday, June 24, the Overberg Fire and Rescue Services, ADT security officers, Hermanus Public Protection members, Hermanus Neighbourhood Watch members and family began the search for a missing man who had not returned from his fishing expedition earlier that morning.
The man had gone missing near to the New Harbour, between the New Harbour and the old harbour.
NSRI Hermanus duty crew joined the search operation on Thursday, June 25. They launched the sea rescue craft, Rotarian Burnett, at 8.41am. The SA Police Services (SAPS), a Police Dive Unit and NSRI Hermanus were also alerted to the search.
During the search, the missing man’s bicycle was discovered on the shoreline, but no other personal belongings were found.
“On Thursday NSRI Hermanus were tasked to join all of the services that were involved in the search, including WC Government Health EMS who had also joined in the search, and the sea rescue craft was tasked to search along the shoreline from the sea side in an area where it was believed that the missing man may have been collecting bait at low tide the day before,” said NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon.
“During a sea and shoreline search it was indicated, by a search party that was searching along the shoreline, that a body was seen in the surf on the shoreline in the search area near to Hermanus New Harbour.”
An NSRI sea rescue vehicle was dispatched to the scene, where NSRI rescue swimmers recovered the body of the missing man from shallow surf below a cliff face.
The body of the deceased man was taken into the care of Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.
It is suspected that the man may have fallen into the water and drowned while collecting bait. Police have opened an inquest docket.
Picture: NSRI
