Graeme Harding, NSRI Knysna station commander, said; “At 13h50 on Wednesday 7 March, NSRI Knysna volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following eye-witness reports of a fishermen fallen on rocks and into the sea while fishing at Buffalo Bay at The Wild Side.
“Bystanders reported that they had managed to get to the where the man was, in amongst rocks, and had dragged him out of the water onto rocks but he appeared to be lifeless and waves crashing over rocks were hampering efforts to get the body to shore.
“Our NSRI volunteer sea rescue duty crew dispatched our sea rescue vehicle and ER-24 ambulance service and the SA Police Force responded.
“On arrival on-scene ER-24 paramedics managed to reach the body of the man in the water in amongst rocks and the body was confirmed deceased and NSRI rescuers, on their arrival, waded through the water and recovered the body of the fisherman which was then handed into the care of Police and the Forensic Pathology Services.
“The cause of death is unknown and will be confirmed by autopsy and eye-witnesses reported that the man had been fishing from rocks when he appeared to fall over backwards and then into water in between the rocks.
“At the time NSRI did not establish the identity of the man or where he is from and Police are dealing with the matter.
“Police have opened an inquest docket.”
