Two men faced drowning after accidentally falling from their fishing boat. Picture: Rogan Ward
Two men who fell overboard from their fishing craft were rescued by the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Stillbaai branch in the Western Cape.
The NSRI Stilbaai duty crew responded to the request for assistance of a small, open fishing boat, which was unmanned (no person operating it) and turning in circles off the shore of Morris Point in Stilbaai.
Stilbaai station commander Stéfan Grové said the two fishermen of the vessel were rescued from the water by the NSRI.
They were both reported as safe and unhurt.
Susan Grové, of the NSRI rescue craft steered it and matched the pace of the small fishing vessel, which was unattended and going in circles.
“The rescue craft came alongside the craft when NSRI rescue swimmer, Waldi Haarhof, calculating the sea swells, jumped from the rescue craft onto the moving fishing boat.
“All care and safety was observed. Fortunately sea conditions were calm with only light winds,” said Grové.
Haarhof turned off the motor power and brought the casualty vessel to a standstill.
Of the two men who fell from the vessel, Grové said: “A refuse bag and a cooler box had fallen overboard with them.
“They inflated the refuse bag and used both the inflated refuse bag and the cooler box as floatation, but they had no way of raising the alarm.”
Fortunately, their friends were able to contact the NSRI.
IOL