Three fishermen managed to survive the entire night in the frigid waters of Cape Point after their boat capsized and began to sink late in the evening on Sunday, April 28.
The NSRI Kommetjie duty crew were activated at 8.57am on Monday, April 29 following reports from a fishermen at Hoek van Bobbejaan, Cape Point, who had rescued three fisherman from the upturned hull of their capsized fishing boat who were in urgent need of medical assistance.
The fishermen who found the stranded trio had come across the capsized fishing boat, which had reportedly capsized at 10pm the night before, in dense fog.
The three men had been hanging on to their capsized boat throughout the night exposed to the elements and unable to raise the alarm until they were found this morning by their fellow fishermen.
The NSRI Kommetjie sea rescue craft Spirit of the Vines was launched and responded along with Cape Medical Response (CMR) and WC Government Health to meet the boat the rescued fishermen were on at Soetwater.
On arrival at Soetwater, responders found both the survivors in a serious condition and suffering from hypothermia. They were given medical treatment and stabilised by paramedics before being transported to hospital by CMR ambulances in serious but stable conditions, and doctors have confirmed that all three, aged 29, 30 and 33, are recovering well.
“The NSRI Kommetjie sea rescue craft arrived on the scene at Hoek van Bobbejaan where we found the capsized casualty boat had sunk and we were able to right and recover their boat which we took under tow and we have towed the casualty boat to Hout Bay harbour where NSRI Hout Bay crew assisted to recover the boat and the boat has been returned to the owners and no further assistance was required. We commend the fishermen who found and rescued them this morning,” said Ian Klopper from NSRI.
Pictures: NSRI