The search is on for a 25-year-old fisherman who was washed away by waves into the Kowie River Mouth, in Port Alfred yesterday evening (13 August 2025).
Various rescue services including the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) and the South African Police Service’s divers initiated a rescue mission after 8pm when alerted of the local fisherman losing his battle against the choppy waves.
The local was seen fishing along the shoreline of the West Pier when he was swept of the rocks. He reportedly struggled to cling onto the rocks after falling into the water but the waves proved overwhelming.
Craig Lambinon, NSRI spokesperson, said: “The fisherman had been clinging onto the rocks in the water after being swept off rocks….then, reportedly appearing to lose his grip on the rocks, he was swept out to sea and disappeared.”
Rescue mission launched for the missing fisherman
According to Lambinon, an NSRI duty crew conducting a routine training session in the vicinity together with other rescue services, launched a rescue mission aboard the NSRI craft, Lotto Challenger and Rescue 11 Alpha.
“Despite an extensive sea and shoreline search, in and beyond the Kowie River Mouth, that included the setting off of illuminating parachute flares and deploying search lights, there remains no signs of the 25-year-old local man,” said Lambinon.
Local police are investigating the matter. Meanwhile, police divers and other rescue crews are still searching for the missing fisherman.
The NSRI expressed their compassion for the family of the young man during this nerve-wracking time.
What measures do you think avid anglers should take to protect against drownings?
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