Skipper Dies Exiting Breede River

Reinard Geldenhuys, NSRI Agulhas station commander, said: At 08h20, Saturday, 6 September, NSRI Witsand, NSRI Agulhas and NSRI Stilbaai duty crews were activated following eyewitness reports to NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) and to our NSRI Witsand duty controller, of a boat capsized at the Breede River Mouth, Witsand.

Eyewitness reports confirmed that a ski-boat, with 4 crew onboard, a dad (believed to be age 50), his two teenage daughters (ages 17 and 15) (from Robertson, Western Cape), and a male friend (believed to be age in his 20’s), had capsized in the vicinity of the sand bar in the Breede River Mouth while appearing to be exiting the river mouth.

NSRI crew, from all 3 NSRI rescue stations, the SA Police Services and WC Government Health EMS responded.

A local fishing vessel launched with NSRI crew onboard while a local RHIB (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat), The Jolly Rodger, that was nearby at the time, rescued all 4 casualties from the water reporting that the dad was unconscious and unresponsive.

The 4 casualties were brought to the NSRI rescue base onboard the RHIB Jolly Rodger where CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) efforts were continued on the unresponsive man and CPR efforts were joined by a doctor and EMS paramedics.

After all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted sadly the man was declared deceased.

The 2 daughters and the male friend were not injured.

Attempts to recover the capsized casualty boat are in progress.

The body of the deceased man was taken into the care of Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.

Condolences are conveyed to family and friends of the deceased man.

The skipper and crew of the local vessel Jolly Rodger are commended for their swift actions rescuing all 4 casualties from the water despite this sad and tragic outcome that has affected the community deeply.