Tragedy Hits Lambert's Bay as Two Fishermen Perish When Boat Capsizes

In a tragic turn of events, the fishing community of Lambert’s Bay has been left mourning the loss of two of its own. Early on Friday morning, a boat carrying three local fishermen capsized near Grootvlei, bringing distress to this close-knit coastal town.

The alarm was raised just after 9:30 am when the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Lambert’s Bay duty crew received reports of a capsized Kreefte Bakkie, a small open fishing boat that encountered trouble on a shallow bank while its occupants were fishing.

The situation was dire. According to police reports, all three fishermen aboard were tossed into the treacherous waters. A nearby fishing crew witnessed the incident and sprang into action, managing to rescue one fisherman. The quick-thinking crew then alerted authorities, setting a full-fledged rescue operation in motion, involving the South African Police Services (SAPS), Disaster Risk Management (DRM), and the Western Cape Government Health Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

The NSRI dispatched their rescue vessel JetRib, named the Spirit of Saldanha, accompanied by collaborative efforts from the NSRI Mykonos and SAPS’s Water Policing and Diving Services (WPDS). Meanwhile, the survivor was brought to Lambert’s Bay harbor, where he received medical attention for symptoms related to non-fatal drowning and was then taken by EMS ambulance to the hospital in a serious but stable condition, with full recovery expected.

However, the community's hope for a fully positive outcome was dashed when the search teams, scouring the sea and shoreline, made the harrowing discovery of the two missing men in the shallows. DRM officials and police ventured into the surf, retrieving both men onto the beach. Tragically, efforts to revive them were in vain, and they were declared deceased at the scene by the attending paramedics.

The bodies were taken into the care of the Government Health Forensic Pathology Services, while the police initiated an inquest docket to investigate the incident further. In the wake of the accident, the boat that had been the fishermen's livelihood was found washed onto nearby rocks, a somber reminder of the peril that individuals face when working at sea.

The local community is reeling from the event, but the spirit of togetherness and mutual support has been evident in the collective response from the people of Lambert’s Bay and the rescue teams involved. The NSRI and other services have been commended for their prompt and professional handling of the situation.

This tragic incident is a stark reminder of the inherent dangers that come with the profession of fishing, particularly in the unpredictable waters of the Western Cape. The town is expected to hold a memorial for the deceased fishermen, whose identities have not been released to the public pending notification of next of kin.

The small community looks to heal after this tragic event, expected to lean on the strength of its residents and the support of the broader South African public in the days to come.