Three men on a rubber duck were injured this evening when the boat was struck by a breaching whale off-shore of Wild Side in the vicinity of Noordhoek at 6 pm (5 November 2012).
The men said they were motoring slowly approximately a km off shore when a whale breached in front of their boat landing on it, causing the boat and all three men to go under water as the whale sunk back into the water. The boat popped out of the water in the capsized position.
On being alerted, NSRI Port Elizabeth raced to scene and had to use illuminating flares to find the boat in dark moonless conditions 1 nautical mile off shore. The injured crew were found clinging to the hull.
According to Ian Gray, NSRI Port Elizabeth station commander, NSRI Port Elizabeth volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated about 18.45 pm. “Duty crew launched our sea rescue craft Eikos Rescuer IV and responded while land based NSRI rescue crews responded by road and EC Government Health Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Guardmed ambulance services, 24/7 ambulance services and the SA Police Services also responded.”
The three injured men, Albertus Myburgh, 41, Wouter van Heerden, 25, and skipper Rodney van der Mecht, 35 were wearing wet-suits and taken onto the sea rescue craft and brought to the Noordhoek ski-boat club slipway where ambulance personnel were standing-by. Paramedics assessed the three men.
Myburgh sustained suspected rib fractures, an arm injury and a leg injury, soft tissue injuries was transported to hospital by ambulance in a stable but serious condition. He is expected to fully recover from his injuries. Van Heerden sustained soft tissue injuries to his arm, while Van der Mecht sustained minor injuries. Both were also transported to hospital.
The NSRI sea rescue craft returned to the scene and towed the rubber-duck to the beach at Noordhoek ski-boat club where it has been recovered and examined. The boat has sustained extensive damage. Illuminating flares were again used by NSRI rescuers to get the casualty boat ashore in the dark conditions.
The men also said they managed to swim to the boat. After much effort they managed to right the craft. The effort to right the craft led to a delay in the men being able to call for help.
Two life-jackets and the capsized kit were lost in the ordeal. One cell-phone still worked and they called the boat’s owner who raised the alarm.
“The species of the whale is unknown to the three men but they say it was large,” Gray says. NSRI are aware that a number of Humpback whales have been seen breaching outside the Bay today but it cannot be confirmed that that this collision involved a Humpback whale.
(edited)
All articles edited or written, all photos taken plus all adverts designed by the Editor and printed in the St Francis Chronicle are protected by the law of Copyright ©. Reproduction or copying of any part of the contents of this newspaper and its concept and design can only be done with the Editor’s written permission.
St Francis Chronicle 