Two drown in Kowie River Mouth after boat capsizes
Extensive sea, shoreline search conducted
TWO crew members tragically drowned after local commercial boat Hawaii capsized in the Kowie River Mouth last Saturday morning.
The boat, skippered by Mike Laverge, an experienced skipper and fisherman, had one of only a few commercial fishing permits in Port Alfred and had attempted to exit the harbour mouth at around 6am.
The sea rescue craft Rescue 11 Alpha was launched and NSRI rescue swimmers were dispatched to the beach.
An NSRI report confirmed that two adult men – Laverge and a crew member – were found safely on the beach. A dead crew member was also found on the beach.
Local paramedics attended to the two survivors. The deceased man who was located on the beach, was taken into the care of SAPS and the Forensic Pathology Services.
Laverge and the other survivor were transported to Port Alfred Hospital by ambulance in a stable condition suffering from shock.
It was confirmed that four men had been on the boat when it capsized.
The 26-foot Butt-Cat Hawaii was found capsized and washed onto a sandbank in a strong rip current in the outgoing spring tide in 3m to 4m swells.
Ndlambe Municipality officials, EC government health EMS, the SAPS, Ndlambe Fire and Rescue Services and Holistic Ambulance Services also responded.
“Our sea rescue craft was used to hold the boat on the sandbank in strong rip currents before the casualty boat could be recovered to the beach. An NSRI rescue swimmer was posted on the harbour wall to act as spotter during the operation,” NSRI Port Alfred duty coxswain Keryn van der Walt said.
An extensive sea and shoreline search continued for the missing man and the SAPS cordoned off the area.
Ndlambe Municipality environmental law officer Willem Nel assisted in conducting an extensive shoreline search using his official vehicle on the beach together with NSRI rescue swimmers and members of the emergency services while the sea rescue craft searched offshore.
During an extensive search operation, the NSRI crew aboard the sea rescue craft spotted the missing adult man found floating semi-submerged in the water 50m offshore wearing a life-jacket. Two NSRI rescue swimmers brought the man onto the beach but he was declared deceased by paramedics.
“NSRI and the emergency services extend sincere condolences to family, friends and colleagues of the two deceased fishermen,” Van der Walt said.
SAPS have opened an inquest docket.