At 08h23, Sunday, 26 July, NSRI Port Alfred duty crew were activated following eyewitness reports of a RHIB (rigid hull inflatable boat) capsized in the Kowie River Mouth, Port Alfred, with 2 people reported to be in the water.
Our duty crew responded to our NSRI Port Alfred station 11 rescue base where the NSRI rescue craft Rescue 11 Alpha was launched and our NSRI rescue vehicle was dispatched.
NSRI rescue swimmers, the SA Police Service, Multi-Security, EC Government Health EMS, Gardmed ambulance services and Life First paramedics, responded directly to the scene at East Beach.
On arrival on the scene a boat was located capsized in the surf zone at East Beach. A local adult man was located and recovered from the water where CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) efforts were commenced on the man. Despite extensive CPR efforts, after all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted, sadly the man was declared deceased.
The survivor, from Gauteng, the adult grandson of the deceased man, was located on the shoreline, he was transported to a local doctor and he is recovering in the care of the doctor and family members.
The body of the deceased man has been taken into the care of Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.
Police have opened an Inquest docket.
Condolences are conveyed to family and friends of the deceased man. All care and compassion are with the family in this difficult time.
It appears that while exiting the Kowie River Mouth to go to sea the boat may have been capsized by waves.
The casualty capsized boat has been recovered and is in the care of Police.
