By midday today, 20 June, no sign has been found of the 58 year-old woman who went missing off the yacht Oryx offshore of Durban yesterday.
She has now been named as Cathy Hill and the SAP have opened a missing person’s investigation into the incident.
It appears that sometime on Friday morning, 19 June, while on routine watch Mrs Hill fell overboard.
The woman’s husband, Peter Hill, from the UK, says all life jackets were on board the yacht Oryx. The NSRI says he made all efforts to find his missing wife and raise the alarm.
Telkom Maritime Radio Services had broadcasted an all ships alert and from 6 am today NSRI Durban voluntary duty crew members continued to search the shoreline and sea areas with the rescue craft Eikos Rescuer II, the Megan II and the yacht Oryx.
From this afternoon, the SAP have taken over the search and the NSRI volunteer duty crew have returned to base.
SAMSA (South African Maritime Safety Authority) and the British Consulate have been informed. Yacht Oryx will return to Durban.
(edited)
St Francis Chronicle 