Fishermen rescued after jetski trouble
Two Durban fishermen were rescued by lifeguards and NSRI located and towed their jetski, which ran into engine trouble on Sunday afternoon.
TWO Durban fisherman were rescued after running into jetski trouble while fishing off shore of Umhlanga.
Andre Fletcher, NSRI Durban deputy station commander, said at 2.15pm on Sunday, 21 September, NSRI Durban volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority following multiple reports from bystanders of a red distress flare and distress smoke flares deployed about 2 kilometres off-shore of Umhlanga.
Fletcher said the NSRI Durban volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched their sea rescue craft Megan II while their sea rescue vehicle, Police Search and Rescue, Ballito Specialised Rescue Unit and Netcare 911 ambulance services also responded.
“It appeared that a jet-ski had capsized with two men on board who had set off red distress flares and distress smoke flares before they abandoned the jet-ski and they were swimming towards shore. On-duty Umhlanga lifeguards had launched to rescue them.
When NSRI arrived on-scene, they found that lifeguards had rescued Greg Martin, 29, and Quinton Meyer, 26, both from Durban, out of the surf. Neither men were injured.
“NSRI located an upturned semi-submerged jet-ski 500 meters off-shore. The jet-ski was righted and towed by our sea rescue craft to Vetches Beach and was later collected by the two men. According to the men, while they were fishing the jet-ski had appeared to start smoking from the motor before capsizing and filling with water. They were both wearing life-jackets and had elected to abandon the jet-ski and swim towards shore before being rescued by lifeguards,” he added.
