Kommetjie – At least three seamen died and four others were rescued by the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) following an SA Navy vessel accident.
Dave Smith, NSRI Kommetjie station commander, said: “At 14:47, Wednesday, 20 September, NSRI Kommetjie duty crew were activated after my neighbor called me on the phone reporting what he suspected to be SA Navy personnel washed off an SA Navy vessel off-shore of Slangkop Lighthouse”.
Smith added: “NSRI Kommetjie duty crew responded to the NSRI Kommetjie rescue station to prepare to launch NSRI rescue craft while raising the alarm.
“A few minutes later, while preparing to launch the NSRI Kommetjie rescue craft, Spirit of the Vines and IL Batello, a MOB (man overboard) alert had been sounded from SA Navy vessels off-shore of Kommetjie and broadcast by Telkom Maritime Radio Services.”
SA National Defence Force, SA Air Force, SA Navy, military medical personnel, and military police responded.
When the NSRI Kommetjie rescue craft arrived on the scene, 1 nautical mile off-shore of Slangkop Lighthouse, they rescued three SA Navy Mariners.
“CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) efforts were initiated on two of the men and once ashore, at the Kommetjie slipway, CPR was continued on both men by paramedics who, after all CPR efforts were exhausted, sadly they were both declared deceased,” said Smith.
“One man was airlifted to hospital by a Netcare 911 air ambulance helicopter in the care of paramedics in a critical condition where doctors and nurses are fighting to save his life.
“Thoughts are with the man and his family in this difficult time.
“One SA Navy officer remained onboard the naval vessel and in a coordinated operation, during the late afternoon, offshore of Hout Bay, an SA Air Force helicopter deployed NSRI ASR rescue swimmers and EMS rescue paramedics onboard where the adult female was extricated from the vessel and CPR efforts were commenced.”
NSRI Hout Bay dispatched an NSRI rescue craft and crew to assist the Navy vessel.
“Sadly, despite extensive CPR efforts, the female officer was declared deceased,” said Smith.
”The body of the female was airlifted to the NSRI Hout Bay rescue station.”
The bodies of the three deceased have been taken into the care of Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.
Four crew survivors were lightly injured and did not require hospitalisation.
“Condolences are conveyed to the families of the deceased. Thoughts are with all affected by this tragic accident,” said Smith.
The SA Navy and maritime authorities will open an investigation.
Police have opened inquest dockets on behalf of the deceased.
