Heroic rescue at sea as fisherman saves man who fell overboard
After further treatment onboard, the man was stabilised before being transported to hospital in a serious but stable condition.
A dramatic rescue unfolded off the Cape Town coast when a local fishing crew raced to save a Greek seafarer who had fallen overboard and was left clinging to a life ring in icy waters after his ship’s crew were unable to pull him back on board.
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said the 38-year-old man is recovering in hospital after the life-saving operation, which took place about seven nautical miles offshore of Mouille Point on Wednesday afternoon.
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NSRI Bakoven station commander Bevan Geyser said rescue crews were activated shortly after 4 pm after Table Bay Port Control reported a “man overboard” from a bulk carrier.
An emergency response involving NSRI Bakoven, NSRI Table Bay, the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, emergency medical services and nearby vessels was immediately launched.
According to Geyser, the ship’s crew managed to keep the man afloat alongside the vessel using a life ring and rope but were unable to haul him back onboard.
A nearby port supply vessel also tried to assist but could not recover him from the water.
Meanwhile, the local fishing vessel McDuck, which had been fishing off Camps Bay, overheard the emergency radio traffic and immediately changed course.
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“The local fishing vessel McDuck, at fishing grounds offshore of Camps Bay at the time, as they had launched earlier in the day from Oceana Power Boat Club to go fishing, Good Samaritans, they had overheard a commotion on a marine VHF radio channel alerting to a man overboard,” said Geyser.
Realising the severity of the situation, the skipper of McDuck had diverted his vessel to respond towards the scene to go to assist.
The crew reached the casualty before rescue craft arrived and successfully pulled him from the water.
However, the seafarer was severely injured and suffering from hypothermia, and was reportedly drifting in and out of consciousness.
The crew immediately began rewarming him while heading back towards shore.
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NSRI rescue boats intercepted the fishing vessel midway to land, transferring rescue swimmers and medical equipment onto McDuck so treatment could continue.
Given the man’s condition, rescuers decided not to move him between vessels, instead escorting the fishing boat to the NSRI Table Bay rescue base, where EMS and Netcare 911 paramedics were waiting.
After further treatment onboard, the man was stabilised before being transported to hospital in a serious but stable condition.
“The skipper and crew of the McDuck fishing vessel, Good Samaritans, have been commended for their critical role in this rescue operation,” Geyser said.
He added that the co-ordinated efforts of Table Bay Port Control, Cape Town Radio, the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre, emergency medical services, NSRI rescue crews and the fishing vessel’s crew all contributed to saving the man’s life.
