High-risk rescues surge along Western Cape waters over Easter weekend
Multiple rescues, breakdowns and one missing fisherman mark a high-risk Easter weekend along the Western Cape coast.
Image: File
A surge in maritime emergencies unfolded along the Western Cape coastline over the Easter weekend, with rescue crews responding to multiple incidents ranging from a near-drowning at Clifton 2nd Beach to offshore mechanical failures, while a 70-year-old fisherman remains missing.
On Sunday morning, a 23-year-old Angolan national was pulled from the water by a Good Samaritan surfer at Clifton, after getting into difficulty while swimming.
According to the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), an eyewitness raised the alarm shortly before 8am, prompting the activation of rescue crews and the City of Cape Town’s water rescue network.
NSRI Bakoven station commander Bevan Geyser said: “While responding to the scene an eyewitness reported that a female surfer had launched her surfboard to go to the man's aid. On arrival on the scene our NSRI crewman found the surfer bringing the man to shore on her surfboard and local community members were assisting the man as she brought him ashore. A doctor, who happened to be at the beach, was assisting with medical treatment and was joined by CSO paramedics.”
The man was stabilised on the beach and transported to hospital in a stable condition. He is expected to make a full recovery.
In contrast, a search remains ongoing for a 70-year-old fisherman who was swept off rocks while shoreline angling near Herolds Bay during the turn of the spring low tide.
NSRI station commander Jonathan Britton said: “On arrival on the scene a search commenced for a local man, age 70, reportedly swept off rocks while shoreline angling during the turn of the Spring low tide.”
Despite extensive air, sea and shoreline searches, no sign of the man has been found.
Elsewhere along the coast, rescue crews dealt with a series of incidents involving boats and watercraft in difficulty.
In Gordons Bay, NSRI crews assisted a family of four after their fishing boat suffered mechanical failure offshore.
NSRI Gordons Bay duty commander Jacques Vivier said: “On our rescue craft arrival on the scene we found the four crew - a family from Wellington - mom, dad and their two teenage sons, safe onboard their craft that appeared to have suffered battery failure following a morning out fishing. A towline was established and we towed the casualty craft to Gordons Bay Harbour… where she was recovered without incident and no further assistance was required,” he said.
On the West Coast, two people were injured when a boat capsized in the surf zone near Langebaan.
NSRI Mykonos station commander Nic Stevens said: “Both patients were medically stabilised before being transported to hospital… the teenager in a serious but stable condition and the adult in a stable condition.”
In Kleinmond, a swimmer caught in rip currents managed to reach a sandbank and self-rescue before assistance arrived.
Rescue authorities said the incidents reflected a combination of increased holiday activity, challenging ocean conditions and mechanical failures at sea.