It’s been a weekend of tragic news for a family from Mossel Bay. After discovering a deceased sailor onboard his yacht near Stillbaai, authorities are currently combing the area in order for the body to be recovered.
Rescue operations were carried out over the weekend, but the yacht had reportedly sunk with the 60-year-old sailor’s body still onboard, as per News24.
The sailor had left Cape Town on his own to sail for Mossel Bay on Friday, 12 August. However, he was found dead on the Panacea yacht after an extensive two-day search following pleas from his anxious family after he was unable to be reached for three days.
The police dive unit is currently “assessing the situation around the possible recovery of the body.”
However, recovery may prove a bit difficult as the yacht is believed to be lying at around 50 metres, which could hinder divers.
The vessel was spotted by a ship after MRCC Cape Town requested Telkom Maritime Radio broadcast a message urging vessels to look out for sightings of the yacht.
“An NSRI Airborne rescue swimmer was deployed from the helicopter into the sea. He swam to and boarded the yacht, where he found the sailor deceased below decks. With limited aviation fuel remaining, the rescue swimmer placed a signalling beacon on the yacht before being recovered into the helicopter and they returned to base,” NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon indicated.
Arrangements had been made for the vessel to be towed to Stillbaai in order for police to recover the body, but bad weather on Saturday forced the operation to be halted.
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Picture: National Sea and Rescue Institute