Fisherman dies at sea of seizure

A FISHERMAN has died after suffering a seizure on board a chokka fishing boat off the Eastern Cape coast.

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) St Francis Bay duty crew were activated on Saturday morning following a request for assistance from the chokka fishing boat Silver Explorer reporting an adult male crew member on board suffering a seizure, said NSRI St Francis Bay station commander Sarah Smith.

“Silver Explorer was heading towards the Port of St Francis from Kabeljous and just prior to our sea rescue craft Spirit of St Francis II arriving at the rendezvous, the skipper confirmed that his crew member had died. On arrival, NSRI medics were put aboard the Silver Explorer and sadly confirmed this.”

Silver Explorer continued into port where they were met by the South African Police Service and the body of the fisherman was been taken into the care of the forensic pathology services, Smith said.

In another incident, NSRI Hermanus station commander Deon Langenhoven, said duty crew were activated on Saturday following reports that a 39-year-old Mossel Bay man was missing on a 3-metre open crayfish boat off Gansbaai.

“It appears the man had launched at Kleinbaai earlier to go fishing and called friends at 16:45 to report his craft suffered motor mechanical failure.”

Despite an extensive search, there was by late yesterday no sign of the man – ANA