Tragic Incident after Fishing Boat Capsizes near Soetwater

SOETWATER: Dave Smith, NSRI Kommetjie station commander, said: NSRI Kommetjie STATION 26 duty crew were alerted at 08h13, Thursday, 12 October, to reports of a RHIB (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat) with motor mechanical failure offshore of the Crayfish Factory, near to Kommetjie.

While NSRI crew investigated it was reported, from Soetwater Resort security, of a fisherman who had approached them to raise the alarm for 2 of his fellow fishermen missing at sea and reporting his RHIB capsized near to Slangkop Lighthouse, Kommetjie.

Soetwater Resort security cared for the man while the alarm was raised.

NSRI Kommetjie rescue swimmers responded and found their RHIB washed onto rocks.

One adult male was located deceased on the scene. A search commenced for one adult male who was missing.

CMR (Cape Medical Response), SA Police Services, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, WC Government Health EMS rescue squad and ambulance, the Metro EMS rescue squad drone unit, CoCT (City of Cape Town) Law Enforcement and SAPS Water Policing and Dive Services responded to join NSRI Kommetjie on the scene.

The survivor was treated on the scene by paramedics and in a stable condition he was reunited with family members at the scene.

NSRI rescue swimmers were deployed into the surf to conduct free dive sweeping line search efforts while the Metro EMS rescue drone was deployed and conducted aerial search efforts.

An extensive air, sea and shoreline search has revealed no signs of the missing man.

The wreck of the casualty RHIB has been recovered onto the shoreline.

Government Health Forensic Pathology Services has taken the body of the deceased man into their care.

It appears that the survivor had managed to reach the shore after their boat had capsized in the early hours of the morning.

Condolences are conveyed to family and friends of the deceased man.

Thoughts are with the family and friends of the missing man.

Police have opened an Inquest docket.

Police divers are continuing in an ongoing search effort for the missing man.