NSRI St Francis Bay searched for around two hours last night for a man believed to have fallen overboard from the chokka boat Coombava offshore of Jeffreys Bay.
Despite the intensive search, the man who apparently wore no life jacket, was not found and he is presumed to have drowned.
Marc May, NSRI St Francis Bay station commander, said at 11.30 pm, 24 August, NSRI St Francis Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched its sea rescue craft Spirit Of St Francis II to go 5 nautical miles off-shore of Jeffreys Bay at the request of the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) to search for an adult male fisherman, who reportedly fell overboard the Coombava.
“NSRI Jeffreys Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew responded to stand-by on alert at their sea rescue base and NSRI Port Elizabeth was also placed on high alert, May said. “It appears that the fisherman may have fallen overboard as early as 9 pm and it is unknown what caused him to go overboard.
“We conducted a search pattern plotted by MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) but despite an extensive search nothing has been found and we were released from the search by the TNPA at 2. 30 am this morning.”
“The man was wearing oil skins and boots but had on no life-jacket. He is presumed to have drowned. The matter has been handed over to the SAP that will investigate the circumstances and continue a search.”
NSRI does not have the age of the man nor does it know where the man is from.
(edited)
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