Sea Rescue – Port Alfred – 05 June, 2011: One fisherman swims ashore, nine fishermen rescued and one fisherman dies after a Chokka fishing boat capsizes:
Juan Pretorius, NSRI Port Alfred station commander, said:
“At 04h00 NSRI Port Alfred volunteers were activated following reports of a Chokka fishing boat reportedly struck by lightening and capsized close to shore 7 nautical miles East of Port Alfred.
“The skipper of the Chokka fishing boat had walked 4 kilometers to Riet River, a small town near Port Alfred arriving at a house on the shore to raise the alarm. He told the NSRI that he had swum ashore, and that his boat, the 45 foot chokka fishing boat Kowie had been hit by lightning and had capsized close inshore.
“He had managed to swim to shore but did not know the fate of his remaining 10 crew and he reported that the casualty boat had capsized approximately 2 nautical miles off-shore and the upturned hull of the boat was being pushed towards shore by a 4 meter swell and a 10 knot South Westerly wind.
“We immediately dispatched a Sea Rescue 4×4 vehicle and a Sea Rescue quad bike along the beach to Riet Punt, 7 nautical miles East of Port Alfred.
“Our sea rescue craft Kowie Rescuer and Arthur Scales responded to the scene and a BK117 helicopter from the SA Air Force Charlie Flight, 15 Squadron, Port Elizabeth, with 3 NSRI rescue swimmers (from NSRI Port Elizabeth) aboard, responded. The SA Police Services, private ambulance service Guardmed and the Ndlambe Fire and Rescue Services also responded to the scene.
“On arrival on-scene at high tide the upturned hull of the chokka boat Kowie was found in the surf line almost on the beach but just too far off-shore for rescue swimmers to immediately reach the upturned hull because of big sea conditions.
“The body of one fisherman was discovered washed up onto the beach and his body was handed into the care of Police and the Forensic Pathology Services but no sign of the remaining 9 fishermen could be found.
“As the tide ebbed we were able to get NSRI rescue swimmers Lynette Harbreght and Chris Kirchhoff to the upturned hull and they climbed up onto the hull and when they banged on the hull they were surprised to hear a very clear response (a banging coming back at them from inside the hull of the boat) signaling that there were survivors still trapped inside the upturned hull.
“One of our sea rescue volunteers works at a hardware store in Port Alfred and he immediately organized for the hardware store to be opened so that we could get tools to cut into the hull and free the men.
The Air Force helicopter flew our NSRI volunteers to the Talisman Plant and Tool Hire hardware store in Port Alfred and they collected a chain saw and axes which were speedily flown, by the Air Force helicopter, back to the scene and we used the tools to cut into the front section of the upturned hull of the Chokka fishing boat.
“NSRI Port Elizabeth rescue swimmer, Marcus Oshry, was at the hull as the hole was cut. he takes up the story:
“We first cut a 30cm by 30cm hole so that we could communicate with the crew. They told us that there were nine of them still trapped.
“We asked them to move back and cut a larger hole so that they could be pulled out.”
At 08h08 the first survivor was pulled out.
“Jubilation went through the large crowd that had gathered on the beach as one by one the survivors were pulled from the upturned boat and they were assisted through the surf to safety by our NSRI volunteers.
“The tears were flowing and the skipper of the casualty boat (who had returned to the scene with the NSRI) hugged each one of his surviving crew as they were brought ashore, said Marcus.
The last survivor to be pulled free was carried ashore by Marcus.
“He was crying and I must be honest I broke down as well. It was very emotional,” said Marcus.
“The nine survivors were flown to hospital by the Air Force helicopter to be medically checked and they have all passed a clean bill of health having suffered no injuries.
“SAMSA (The South African Maritime Safety Authority) have been alerted to begin investigations into the incident and Police have opened an inquest docket.
“The Emergency Services have expressed sincere condolences to survivors and the family of the deceased fisherman.”