EAST LONDON, January 31 (ANA) – A fisherman has drowned during an angling competition in the Eastern Cape, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said on Sunday.
According to NSRI East London station commander Geoff McGregor, duty crew were alerted to an incident at about 9.30am on Saturday by fishermen at Hole in the Wall, on the Transkei Wild Coast.
A 40-year-old Durban fisherman, taking part in a fishing competition, had been swept out to sea by rip currents after being engulfed by waves while landing his catch in shallow surf.
Fellow anglers attempted to rescue the man by throwing rope towards him but he was swept out to sea. An Eastern Cape emergency medical services (EMS) rescue helicopter, the SA Police Service (SAPS), and a police K-9 search and rescue team were also activated.
On arrival at the scene a search started for the missing angler in the surf. The man’s body was located and recovered from the water and brought to shore where paramedics declared him dead, McGregor said.
A bit later on Saturday, at 11.30am, a drowning in progress was reported further north, at Hibberdene on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast.
A local man, believed to be in his late teens, was reportedly swept out to sea by rip currents while swimming, NSRI Shelly Beach station commander Jeremiah Jackson said.
An extensive air, sea, and shore search by the NSRI, an SAPS helicopter and search and rescue team, and ambulance services was launched, but no sign of the teenager had been found and a police search and rescue team would continue an ongoing search operation.
Police had opened an investigation, Jackson said.
Another man drowned, at Swartvlei lagoon in Sedgefield on the southern Cape coast, at about 6pm on Saturday evening, NSRI Wilderness station commander Hennie Niehaus said.
A local man, believed to be in his early 20s, was reported to have disappeared under water in the lagoon while swimming.
A search was launched and NSRI rescue swimmers and police divers free dived and the man’s body was located. He was brought to shore where paramedics declared him dead.
Police had opened an inquest docket, Niehaus said.
– African News Agency (ANA)
