At 10h03 (Sunday, 09th September) NSRI Hermanus volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports from a paddler that he had come across an upturned small boat, with a small outboard motor, on Fisherhaven Lagoon, near Hermanus, approximately 200 meters from the Lagoon Mouth.
NSRI Hermanus volunteer sea rescue duty crew towed their sea rescue craft Hunters Gold Rescuer to the scene and launched onto the lagoon and recovered a small capsized boat with a small outboard engine and the body of a man was discovered under water trapped in Gill fishing nets. The body of the man has been recovered and was confirmed to be deceased and has been handed into the care of the Police and the Forensic Pathology Services.
It appears that the unidentified black male is aged in his late twenties or early thirties and it is suspected that the boat may have capsized during the night or in the early hours of this morning.
Clothing worn by the man are blue overall pants and a black rain jacket with 3 layers of clothing underneath.
The name of the small boat is ORION but it is not clear where the boat is from and it is unknown if there was anyone else with the man when the boat may have capsized but a search of the area has revealed no sign of any other persons.
Authorities are appealing to the family of the deceased man or anyone who can assist in identifying who the small boat belongs to and help to identify the deceased man to call the Police investigating officer, Constable Swem, at Hermanus Police Station – 0283138500 OR 0283138549 OR 0283138522.
The concern is for the welfare of the family of the deceased man and sea rescue authorities are also concerned that there may be additional people missing and we therefore appeal to the media to assist us in this sensitive enquiry by appealing to anyone who knows of the small row boat ORION, with a small outboard engine, that had perhaps launched to fish using fishing nets on the Fisherhaven Lagoon during last night or this morning.
A Police Dive Unit has been placed on alert to assist in a search if it comes to light that there were more people on the boat when it may have capsized.
