Daring Rescue at Kowie River Mouth: Two Fishermen Survive Harrowing Ordeal

In a dramatic nighttime operation, two fishermen were rescued after being swept from a pier and suffering severe injuries at the Kowie River Mouth in Port Alfred, South Africa. At approximately 20h26 on Thursday, 8 August, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) duty crew from Port Alfred responded to an emergency call.

The ordeal began when the two local fishermen, aged 22 and 42, were walking on West Pier and were unexpectedly swept into the turbulent waters by powerful waves. One man managed, despite sustaining multiple injuries, to swim ashore to East Pier Beach, where he was subsequently discovered by a group of fellow fishermen. The other was found caught among rocks along West Pier's shoreline, where he was being battered by the waves.

The NSRI responded with urgency, dispatching a rescue vehicle and launching their rescue craft, Lotto Challenger. Upon arrival, the NSRI crew provided lifesaving medical treatment to the younger man on East Pier. Simultaneously, the crew embarked on a perilous rescue to save the second man. Despite an outgoing tide, rip currents, and breaking waves, an NSRI rescue swimmer, secured to a rope system, managed to reach the injured man who was semi-submerged and entangled among the rocks.

The onshore crew, including a local car guard assisting as a bystander, hoisted the severely injured fisherman up onto the pier with a recovery system rigged for this purpose. Both men were stabilized at the scene and transported by EMS ambulances to a local hospital, then later to a hospital in Gqeberha where they continue to recover.

This incident is a testament to the bravery and skill of the NSRI team, whose swift action and expertise in the face of dangerous conditions resulted in the successful rescue of both fishermen. The NSRI and all involved in the rescue effort are highly commended for their professional response, undoubtedly saving the lives of these two men.