Body of local fisherman recovered from the sea off St Francis Bay

The body of a local fisherman who jumped from a chokka boat into the sea off St Francis Bay was recovered yesterday.

The man aged in his 30s was on board the Samantha chokka boat and had inexplicably tried to swim to the Western Star chokka boat when he got into difficulties in the water.

Marc May, NSRI St Francis Bay station commander, said at 3.50 pm on 27 June NSRI St Francis Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from the Western Star that reported a fisherman in the sea about 5 nautical miles off-shore.

“Our NSRI St Francis Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched our sea rescue craft Spirit of St Francis II when it was reported that Western Star had recovered the fisherman from the water and were speeding towards St Francis Bay.”

The NSRI duty crew met up Western Star off-shore of St Francis Bay. It was confirmed the fisherman, was dead.   His body was brought to the NSRI rescue base at the port and was handed over to the Forensic Pathology Services and Police.

 May said it was reported that the man had jumped off Samantha while fishing and tried to swim a few hundred metres to the Western Star for unknown reasons. He was floating face down in the water when he was rescued by Western Star

 “Police have opened an inquest docket,” May added.

(edited)

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