Durban — A search operation is still ongoing to find a local man who went missing at sea in St Lucia over the weekend.
That was according to National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesperson Craig Lambinon.
“There is an ongoing search operation,” Lambinon said.
Police have been approached for comment.
Earlier, Lambinon had said that at 8.30am on Saturday, NSRI St Lucia responded to reports of a local man believed to be in his late 20s, who had reportedly gone missing at the sea by the backline.
“He was attempting to salvage fishing equipment and he reportedly got caught in rip currents before being washed out to sea and he was last seen being pushed underwater by waves,” Lambinon said.
He said that the NSRI jet rib was launched and all local boats in the area assisted with the search.
“Despite an extensive search, there remains no sign of the missing man,” Lambinon said.
“Police search and rescue are continuing in an ongoing search.
“Thoughts are with the family of the missing man in this difficult time,” Lambinon added.
Lambinon said that there were two other incidents at St Lucia before and after the man went missing.
He said that a total of three incidents took place on Saturday at Ingwe Beach, St Lucia, during the all-girls Queen of the Ocean fishing competition.
Lambinon said that at 6am, a vessel capsized in the surf line while attempting to launch with one man and five women from Burgersfort aged between 35 and 44.
“Our duty crew, on the beach at the time, launched our rescue jet rib and Netcare 911 ambulance services were activated.
“Four of the casualties swam to shore where they were assisted in shallow surf by NSRI rescue swimmers and once ashore they were taken into the care.
“One person was rescued onto the NSRI rescue craft and one female remained trapped in the cabin of the capsized boat,” Lambinon explained.
He said that NSRI rescue swimmers attempted to rescue the woman trapped under the boat. After the casualty boat washed closer to shore it was able to be lifted and the woman was freed from her entrapment.
“NSRI medics and Netcare 911 paramedics, on the beach, assisted all six casualties. Three were transported to the hospital in Richards Bay in stable conditions by Netcare 911 ambulance for further treatment,” Lambinon said.
He said that at 9.20am, a call was intercepted on the VHF marine radio reporting a fishing vessel that had lost motor power to one engine and was needing to return to the shore. Their NSRI jet rib went to assist the vessel with her six crew on board.
“The six adult crew, two males and four females, (were) from Standerton; the four females were brought to shore aboard our rescue craft before the two males brought their fishing vessel ashore on one motor and beached without incident,” Lambinon said.
Daily News