The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) has praised a Good Samaritan who alerted rescue authorities after a boat capsized off Beachwood beach in Durban North, yesterday (July 19), leaving one person dead.

Northglen News reports that according to NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon, the Good Samaritan helped injured crew members by transporting them to a nearby service station where the alarm was raised.

Tragic fishing trip

“We believe that the 22-foot boat had launched at Durban Ski-boat Club earlier in the day to go fishing with the six local crew onboard – the deceased, his three children, his cousin and a friend of the children,” said Lambinon.

He added that it appears that while returning from fishing the boat had capsized in waves offshore at Beachwood along the Durban North shore.

“The three young males, two teenagers and a child, who were on the capsized boat and who had been assisted to get to shore by their uncle (the boat skipper), had been walking towards a service station to raise the alarm when the Good Samaritan helped out. He has been commended for his actions,” Lambinon added.

Bystanders attempt CPR

Marshall Security, police, ambulance services and search-and-rescue crews all assisted in the recovery operations.

A group of local fishermen who live in the area reportedly witnessed the capsize and attempted bystander CPR on one of the crew members.

The 41-year-old man, father to three of the survivors and cousin of the skipper, was located on the beach, sadly deceased.

The five other people on the boat are expected to make full recoveries.

“The capsized boat has washed ashore and is in the care of police and metro police, assisted by Durban Ski-boat Club,” said Lambinon.

Police have opened an inquest docket following the incident.

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