A Spanish lady diver missing offshore of Port Shepstone, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, was adrift for more than three hours before being located by a helicopter, 9 nautical miles from where she had gone missing.
During an extensive sea and air search, in 4-5 meter swells and strong North Easterly winds, a helicopter search spotted the 59 year-old lady in the sea by her frantic waving of arms at about 12 pm today. She was 5 nautical miles offshore of Trafalgar, South Coast.
Gary Wolmarans, NSRI Shelly Beach station commander, said at 9.36 am today, 20 November, NSRI Shelly Beach duty crew were activated by Shelly Beach tower control following reports from a dive carter vessel of a lady diver missing during a dive at Protea Banks, offshore of Port Shepstone, Kwa-Zulu Natal.
Two dive boats initiated a search and raised the alarm.
NSRI Shelly Beach crew and Port Edward responded and their rescue vessels, the NSRI rescue craft Spirit of Dawn and Spirit of Steve respectively were launched and rescue vehicles were dispatched.
Police Search and Rescue were activated and joined in shoreline search efforts. MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) and Transnet National Ports Authority – Durban Port Control were alerted and the TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) helicopter, Transnet One, was activated, with 2 TNPA pilots and a TNPA hoist operator, accompanied by an NSRI Durban rescue swimmer.
Two charter fishing vessels, Serenity and Pelagic Hunter, launched from Shelly Beach and they joined in the search. Telkom Maritime Radio Services assisted with marine VHF communications and they broadcast an all ships alert for vessels in the area to be on the lookout.
At least three private fixed wing aircraft, coordinated by Margate ATC (Air Traffic Control), assisted in an aerial search.
NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), NSRI operations headquarters, NSRI Durban, NSRI Shelly Beach and NSRI Port Edward duty controllers, plotted coordinated sweeping line search patterns using advanced technology to direct the search operation for rescue resources that were deployed.
On being notified the lady had been found by a helicopter, the 2 NSRI rescue craft were diverted from their search positions and went to to where the helicopter was.
The helicopter remained above the lady until NSRI rescue craft arrived and the lady was rescued onto the rescue craft Spirit of Dawn. She was relieved to be rescued, in good spirits, and was uninjured.
She was brought to NSRI Shelly Beach where she was reunited with her fellow divers to an emotional reunion. it appears the lady had surfaced from a dive and found the dive boat was out of sight and before she began drifting away.
The swift response and cooperation between all services and private charters, including that of the TNPA Transnet One helicopter, is commended.
