Three friends fishing at Rooi Els near Pringle on Saturday morning had to be rescued when huge waves crashed along the rocks they were standing on.
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) were called to the scene at 11.45am to assist in the rescue of one man who was swept away in the swell. It is alleged that three males were fishing on the rocks near the shoreline when waves swept over them. Two men managed to hold on but the third was swept out to sea. He is said to be a 45-year-old from Paarl.
NSRI Gordons Bay dispatched the sea rescue craft Spirit of Surfski and NSRI rescue vehicles from NSRI Gordons Bay and NSRI Kleinmond and the GB Med Sec ambulance services, WC Government Health EMS and EMS rescue squad, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services and their Fire Dive Unit and the SA Police Services responded.
According to a report by NSRI, when they arrived on the scene they could see a man in the surf. He was rescued shortly thereafter and CPR was administered to him by medics.
“Our sea rescue craft responded to our sea rescue base where paramedics continued with extensive CPR efforts but sadly after all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted he was declared deceased,” said NSRI.
Police have opened an inquest docket and the body of the deceased has been taken into the care of the Department of Health Forensic Pathology Services.
Picture: NSRI