One fisherman has died and eight are still missing after their Chokka fishing vessel Maredon capsized off-shore of Thyspoint.
The NSRI St Francis Bay duty crew was activated at 3.30am following reports of red distress flares reported by Chokka fishing vessels at sea.
The Chokka fishing vessel Silver Eagle had witnessed the red distress flares at around 03h00 and raised the alarm calling Telkom Maritime Radio Services and MRCC.
Megalodon, with 16 people on board, reported having recovered one survivor from the water.
NSRI St Francis Bay launched the sea rescue craft Spirit of St Francis II into rough sea conditions with 6-meter swells, rain and a gusting Westerly wind of 50 knots.
The SA Police Services, Private Care ambulance services, local security company members, NSRI Jeffreys Bay and NSRI Oyster Bay, EC Government Health EMS, a Police Dive Unit and an NSRI Port Elizabeth NSRI ASR team aboard an SA Air Force 15 Squadron Charlie Flight BK-117 helicopter responded. Shore patrols and a sea and air search continued.
One survivor was transferred from the Chokka fishing vessel Megalodon onto the NSRI sea rescue craft Spirit of St Francis II and he was brought to shore and he has been transported to hospital by Private Care ambulance services in a stable condition.
During search members of the public, including the owner of other Chokka fishing boats, and NSRI rescuers, recovered 1 deceased fisherman on the shore in the vicinity of Sunset Rocks and 5 survivors were found on the beach at Sunset Rocks.
The deceased man has been taken into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services.
The Maredon was found capsized and hard aground at Sunset Rocks but surf conditions did not allow rescuers to get close to the stricken vessel during the high tide.
As high tide approached waves caused the stricken vessel to roll over a few times and one survivor was witnessed climbing out of the vessel and NSRI rescue swimmers waded into the water and rescued the survivor who has been airlifted to hospital by the SAAF 15 Squadron Charlie Flight helicopter in a stable condition.
At this stage there is 1 fishermen recovered and confirmed to be deceased, 7 survivors recovered of which 6 have been hospitalised and reported to be in stable conditions and 8 crew who are missing.
Efforts are underway to breach the hull of the boat as the tide recedes and a search and rescue operation continues.
Police have opened an inquest docket and SAMSA (South African Maritime Safety Authority) are launching an investigation.
Issued by Craig Lambinon NSRI
Pictures supplied by Dayni Sanderson and Deen Hill
