MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

‘Aircraft Crash’ leads to rescue of 4 men off capsized fishing boat

By

Ian Gray, NSRI Port Elizabeth station commander, said; “At 09h02 on Thursday 7 June, NSRI Port Elizabeth volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of a small fixed wing light aircraft crashed into the sea approximately 1.5 nautical miles off-shore between The Willows and Schoenmakerskop, approximately 18 nautical miles West of the Port Elizabeth harbour.

“Our NSRI volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched our sea rescue craft and a full Emergency Services response was initiated.

“Very shortly into the response it was confirmed that this was not an airplane crashed into the sea but a 12 foot fishing boat that had capsized and the 4 fishermen onboard were setting off red distress flares from the upturned hull of their boat.

“On arrival on-scene all 4 fishermen were found to be safe, not injured, and they have been taken onboard the NSRI sea rescue craft.

“Attempts made by NSRI rescuers on-scene to try to right their capsized fishing boat have been successful and the NSRI rescue craft is now towing the casualty fishing boat towards Port Elizabeth, with all 4 fishermen safe on the NSRI sea rescue craft.

“It is unknown at this stage what caused the fishing boat to capsize and NSRI will provide another statement as soon as more details are available.

“It is unknown at this stage what led to the misconception that this had been an aircraft accident”.

Update:

The 12 foot fishing vessel, that capsized 1.5 nautical miles off-shore, between The Willows and Schoenmakerskop, approximately 18 nautical miles West from the Port of Port Elizabeth, is the Tracy Jane, skippered by local fisherman Andre Barnard and his local crew (only first names obtained) Tom, Dean and Leonard.

They had reportedly been fishing when the incident happened.

Once the NSRI Port Elizabeth Sea Rescue craft had rescued the men, off of the upturned hull of their boat, the capsized boat was righted and towed by NSRI.

Initial hopes were to tow the boat to the Noordhoek slipway but a Spring Tide low tide made conditions too shallow to recover the boat at the Noordhoek slipway and the casualty boat was then towed by NSRI to the Port of Port Elizabeth where she has been recovered.

The men reported that while recovering their anchor they suspect that the anchor may have fouled on the boat causing the boat to capsize but a full investigation has been launched by SAMSA (The South African Maritime Safety authority) to determine the cause of this maritime accident.

Once safely ashore the fishermen required no further assistance.

The following two tabs change content below.
My Twitter profileMy Facebook profileMy Google+ profileMy LinkedIn profileMy Flickr profileMy Pinterest profile

Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.