Police divers and Police K-9 dog rescue teams are searching in the Fish River area today to locate two missing men after their a boat capsized yesterday, 8 June.
The body of one of the four men on the boat was found in the initial search and one survivor was found.
Juan Pretorius, NSRI Port Alfred station commander, said at 8.30 pm volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of three people missing on the Fish River after their boat capsized at the Fish River Mouth about 30 miles north of Port Alfred.
The survivor from the coat boat raised the alarm and reported he and three other men (his father, an uncle and a friend of his father) had gone fishing.
The men from East London, went to a rocky outcrop at the Fish River Mouth aboard a small dinghy where they had fished from the rocks. At about 5 pm at high tide, they climbed back into the dinghy to go back to the shore when waves capsized the dinghy.
Three men disappeared while one managed to hang onto the upturned hull of the dinghy before eventually managing to get back to shore alone. After failing to find any sign of the three men he hiked about 3 kms to get to a phone to raise the alarm. Sea conditions were at 2 to 3 meter swells and there was a light South Westerly wind.
“NSRI Port Alfred and a Police Disaster Management team responded to the remote location. On arrival on-scene NSRI Port Alfred rescuers met the survivor who was made comfortable and warm. He was in a state of shock but was uninjured.”
A search started for the remaining three missing men and soon afterwards, at low tide, the body of one of the missing men was found and recovered from shallow surf in the vicinity. Police teams arrived on the scene and joined in a search for the other two missing men.
The survivor is believed to be aged in his early 20s. The ages of the deceased man and of the 2 missing men are also unknown to NSRI. Names will not be released at this stage.
Police assisted with family members who arrived on the scene during the night and counselling was arranged. The family were due to meet with the police again today.
The body of the deceased man has been handed into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services. Police have opened an inquest docket.
(edited)
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