A tragic accident off the West Coast has claimed the lives of three local fishermen after their vessel capsized near Shelly Point on Friday afternoon.
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) confirmed the incident, saying their Mykonos and St Helena Bay stations were activated at 16:11 following eyewitness reports of a man clinging to a capsized fishing boat, with more people feared in the water.
‘Washed ashore’
NSRI St Helena Bay launched their rescue craft Rotary Onwards, with assistance from the SA Police Services, West Coast Disaster Risk Management, EMS, Saldanha Bay Traffic Services, and West Coast Medical Rescue.
Police diving units were also alerted.
On arrival, responders found the body of an adult male washed ashore, who was sadly declared deceased at the scene by paramedics.
A second body was discovered in shallow surf nearby and recovered by NSRI rescue swimmers in cooperation with police.
The man was also declared deceased.
‘Good Samaritan’
A Good Samaritan, wearing a wetsuit, was found in the surf searching among the rocks for the third missing fisherman.
An NSRI rescue swimmer joined the search, and together they located and recovered the man’s body from the rocky shoreline.
All three men were declared deceased and their bodies were handed over to police and the Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.
The victims are all believed to be local adult fishermen. Their identities have not yet been released.
“The circumstances that led to the fishing boat capsizing and the time of the incident is not clear,” said Cedric Brown, NSRI Mykonos duty coxswain.
“Police have opened an inquest docket.”
The NSRI, emergency services, and police have commended the eyewitness who raised the alarm, as well as the Good Samaritan who bravely entered the surf to assist.
“Our condolences are conveyed to the family and friends of the three deceased fishermen,” Brown added.
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