A tragic boating accident occurred at Cape Point on Saturday morning, resulting in the loss of one fisherman’s life while two others managed to survive and reach the shore.
The incident, which took place near Brightwaters, on the Atlantic side of Cape Point, was reported to authorities after two survivors arrived at the Cape Point main gate.
They recounted that their boat had capsized approximately 1.5 nautical miles south of Olifantsbospunt during the early hours of the morning.
The survivors, aged 29 and 17 and both from Hout Bay, revealed that their boat had overturned in dense fog within the surf zone. Despite their efforts to reach the shore, they were unable to locate their skipper, who remained missing.
Upon receiving the distress call, the NSRI (National Sea Rescue Institute) teams from Kommetjie, Simonstown and Hout Bay were activated. Additionally, Cape Medical Response (CMR) and various other emergency services were mobilised to assist in the rescue operation.
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NSRI Hout Bay launched two rescue crafts, Nadine Gordimer and Albie Matthews, to conduct a search and rescue mission in the area.
Metro Control deployed the WC Government Health EMS rescue squad ‘drone rescue unit,’ and SAPS was also alerted to assist in the operation.
Tragically, during the extensive sea and shoreline search, the body of the missing skipper, a 39-year-old fisherman from Ocean View, was located approximately 30 to 50 metres offshore at Brightwaters.
Despite efforts to rescue him, he was declared deceased at the scene.
The NSRI recovered the deceased’s body onto their rescue craft and transported it to the NSRI Hout Bay rescue station, where it was then handed over to Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.
Family members of the deceased were provided with support and assistance by NSRI Hout Bay crew, Forensic Pathology Services and SAPS, who has initiated an inquest docket to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
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Picture: NSRI