Missing fisher’s body found, dolphin rescued
THE NSRI said police scuba divers had recovered the body of a fisherman who had been reported missing after the Normandie capsized 10 nautical miles off the north of St Helena Bay on Sunday night.
Casper Frylinck, NSRI Mykonos station commander, said that on Monday at 3.30pm he launched sea rescue craft Gemini Rescuer II accompanied by the Police Dive Unit. “Following a search the capsized fishing boat was located 13 nautical miles offshore of St Helena Bay. Police dived under the boat and during the search the body of the missing fisherman was located and recovered,” said Frylinck.
“The body has been brought to St Helena Bay harbour and taken into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services. Police have opened an inquest docket.”
Meanwhile, an NSRI Agulhas duty team also responded to calls from witnesses who informed them of a dolphin stranded on the rocks in Arniston. The crew and Overberg Fire and Rescue Services responded.
On arrival at the scene they found the dolphin, an adult female, stranded on the rocks at low tide below houses on the shoreline. A high-angle rope system was set up and using wet towels the dolphin was assisted and secured into a Stokes basket stretcher and hoisted, using a winch, safely over the rocks and up a steep pathway and carried to the Fire and Rescue vehicle and transported to the opposite side of the Bay near to The Beacon on Otter Beach where NSRI rescue swimmers swam the dolphin into deep water.
The dolphin, despite slight injuries sustained from sharp rocks, once in deep water, swam in circles a few times before disappearing into the deep and she appeared to be swimming strongly. Geldenhuys said he is confident she will recover.