Pure Legend Assisted

Jacques, NSRI Durban coxswain, said: At 11h52, Sunday, 8 February, NSRI Durban duty crew were activated following reports from Durban Underwater Club of a local craft taking on water approximately 6 nautical miles offshore of Umhlanga with the 4 local adult men onboard reporting to be preparing to abandon their craft.

The NSRI Durban rescue craft Alick Rennie was launched.

NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), the SA Police Services and TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Port of Durban Port Control were alerted.

On arrival in the area we located the local fishing charter boat Pure Legend, they were 3 nautical miles offshore of Umhlanga – heading towards Durban Port, they had rescued the 4 local adult men from their casualty boat that had been taking on water, experiencing motor mechanical failure, and that had been left adrift after the 4 men were rescued off their casualty craft.

The 4 men were not injured.

NSRI transferred the skipper of the casualty craft onto the NSRI rescue craft where a search commenced for the casualty craft, while Pure Legend continued on towards Durban’s Port.

Following a search the casualty craft was located adrift approximately 2.5 nautical miles North of the original position – where they had been when the alarm was raised.

On arrival at the casualty craft an NSRI rescue swimmer was transferred onboard, finding the casualty craft heavy laden with water.

A towline was established and we towed the casualty craft to the harbour public slipway where their craft was recovered without incident.

The remaining 3 casualty crewmen were brought to Durban Harbour onboard the fishing charter boat Pure Legend – whose skipper and crew have been commended for their assistance.

The causes of the casualty craft taking on water will be investigated by the owner.