Body Recovered in Sunday’s River After Tragic Boating Accident

Ian Gray, NSRI Port Elizabeth station commander, said; “At 14h10 on Sunday 25 March, NSRI Port Elizabeth volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of a man missing after falling from a boat on the Sunday River near Port Elizabeth.

“It appears that the boat had been executing a tight turn when a 34 year old Port Elizabeth man, Lesley Vermaak, had fallen out of the boat and disappeared under water.

“Our NSRI Port Elizabeth volunteer sea rescue duty crew towed a sea rescue boat to the scene which was launched on arrival (the sea rescue boat had been diverted from the Blue Water Bay incident that was going on at the same time) and the SA Police Force, a Police Dive Unit and Coastal Rescue responded.

“An extensive search from our sea rescue craft and Coastal Rescue rescue swimmers free diving revealed no sign of the missing man.

A Police dive unit continued the search and recovered the body. Lesley Vermaak was declared dead and handed into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services.

The following two tabs change content below.

• Bio
• Latest Posts

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.

Latest posts by Alan Straton (see all)

• South African Conquers Rats on the World Stage - 30 October 2026
• Old JPG on a Memory Stick? Vectorization Studio in Observatory Redraws Faded and Low-Resolution Logos by Hand - 30 October 2026
• ReAutomated Adds Robot Palletising and Case Packing Cells to Existing South African Packing Lines Without Stripping Out the Conveyors - 30 October 2026
• From a 5 KM Sprint to an Ultra: Punisher Sets Out Its Magaliesberg Obstacle Race Formats for First Timers, Teams and Fitness Clubs - 30 October 2026
• Rotary or Dual Action? Germiston’s Polisher Lists Its Machines, Buffs and Compounds for Car Paint and Metal Finishing - 30 October 2026