An inquest docket has been opened by the police following the discovery of a body in Hermanus this morning.
According to NSRI Hermanus duty coxswain, Jean le Roux, the Hermanus duty crew were activated following a call from a commercial whale watching vessel reporting that they had come across a body adrift at sea approximately one nautical mile South of Hermanus Harbour.
The South African Police Services were also alerted while the NSRI sea rescue craft Rotarian Burnett was launched.
“On arrival on the scene, the body was located and recovered onto our sea rescue craft and brought to the Hermanus Harbour,” he said.
The body has been taken into the care of Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services. Le Roux stated that families of persons believed to be missing at sea in the vicinity have been notified to assist police and government Health Forensic Pathology Services with identification of the deceased. “Our thoughts are with those families in this difficult time.”
Missing fisherman south of Cape Point
Meanwhile, a search has ensued following reports of a man overboard and missing from a fishing vessel 11 nautical miles south of Cape Point.
Station commander of the NSRI Simonstown, Darren Zimmerman, said the local fishing vessel that the fisherman had gone overboard from was engaged in a search and MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) had tasked another local fishing vessel to assist in the search. “The fisherman had reportedly fallen overboard while they were laying fishing gear. The alarm was immediately raised and the skipper had turned the vessel around and they had initiated a search,” said Zimmerman.
He added that upon arrival on the scene, they found that the casualty vessel had sustained fishing rope fouled around her propellors and although she was unable to actively continue to assist in the ongoing search, her crew were all on the lookout for their fellow ship mate. “The two NSRI sea rescue craft joined the second fishing vessel in an extensive search operation. The crews of at least seven fishing vessels that were in the vicinity at the time were keeping a lookout for the missing fisherman.”
“Despite an extensive search there remains no sign of the missing fisherman,” he said.
The NSRI Simonstown and NSRI Hout Bay sea rescue craft returned to base in the early hours of the morning and local fishing vessels are continuing to keep a lookout for the missing fisherman.
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Beached dolphin, fishermen, drowning couple – NSRI rescues in one day
Picture: Cape {town} Etc gallery