Darius van Niekerk, NSRI Mykonos station commander, said’ “At 11h23 on Thursday 8 December 2011, NSRI Mykonos volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of a 4 meter crayfishing boat, known as a crayfish bakkie, overdue from fishing at sea off-shore of St Helena Bay, North of Saldanha Bay.
“They were reportedly due to return from fishing at around 10h00 and after they failed to return and after cellphone contact with the fishermen could not be made the alarm was raised.
“Our NSRI volunteer sea rescue duty crew towed our sea rescue craft GEMINI RESCUER II to be launched on scene and local fishing boats and the SA Police Services, a Metro EMS ambulance and a Metro EMS rescue squad responded and joined in the search for the missing men and their boat.
“An SA Air Force 35 Squadron Dakota fixed wing aircraft at Air Force Base Langebaanweg was placed on high alert.
“Conditions are gusting to 40 knot winds and 2 to 3 meter rough and choppy sea swells.
“During the search the local fishing boat BIG JOHN came across the upturned hull of the missing boat and found the skipper of the capsized boat clinging to the hull of the upturned boat.
“The crew of BIG JOHN rescued the skipper and brought him safely ashore where Metro EMS paramedics treated the local man for shock and he was otherwise not injured and did not require to go to hospital.
“During the search for the remaining three missing fishermen NSRI rescue swimmers were sent into the water to free dive under the capsized boat where they searched amongst entangled fishing nets and general boat debris and found and recovered two of the missing fishermen’s bodies that were trapped in the fishing nets.
“The bodies of the two deceased fishermen have been brought to shore and handed into the care of the SA Police Services and the Forensic Pathology Services.
“An extensive search is continuing for the one remaining missing fisherman and a Police Dive Unit have joined in the search.
“It is not known what caused the fishing boat to capsize and the SA Police Service have opened an inquest docket and SAMSA (The South African Maritime Safety Authority) have been alerted and will begin investigations.
“All of the men are believed to be from St Helena Bay and Police Counsellors are attending to the families of the two deceased fishermen and of the one missing fisherman.
“Details of the men have not been released.”
