There is still no sign of a missing fisherman despite extensive searches by the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI). The man’s boat capsized off the north shore of Paternoster on the West Coast on Tuesday, February 2 at 6am.
A 14-year-old boy, who was found by fishermen on the casualty boat near Seal Island, confirmed that the man aged 35 – believed to be his uncle – had gone missing near Seal Island earlier in the day. The teen was not injured in the incident.
“Our sea rescue craft Spirit of East London II was towed to Paternoster and launched to begin a search in the vicinity of Seal Island, approximately five nautical miles North of Paternoster, for a local 35-year-old fisherman who was reported to be missing at sea,” said Mike Shaw, NSRI Mykonos. “The SA Police Services were at Paternoster Beach where the four meter Kreefte Bakkie (small open fishing boat) had been towed to by a fellow fishing boat.”
“The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre assisted in coordinating a search and plotting search grids,” Shaw said. “NSRI searched the area and were joined by police divers. Despite an extensive search there remains no sign of the missing man.”
Police will continue the ongoing search operation for the missing fisherman.
“Our thoughts are with the family of the missing fisherman in this difficult time,” Shaw added.
Picture: NSRI