While fishing from a paddle-ski off-shore of Kings Reef, Rocky Bay on Saturday morning (July 17), a fisherman (47) was in the process of hooking his second catch for the day when the fish caused a sudden turn of events resulting in the paddle-ski sinking.

Local eye-witness, Noel McDonogh, spotted the man in difficulty and immediately alerted NSRI Rocky Bay.

“Our duty crew responded to our NSRI Rocky Bay sea rescue base and the sea rescue craft jet-rib Rescue 39 Alpha was launched while NSRI Rocky Bay station commander Kevin Fourie, at sea at the time and fishing on his private ski-boat Miracle, diverted from his fishing to respond,” said Linda Putter, NSRI Rocky Bay deputy station commander.

The rescue team promptly arrived at the scene and the fisherman was taken out of the water and his paddle-ski was recovered.

The fisherman explained to the NSRI crew that he had just caught a large fish and while in the process of catching a second fish, the fish bumped his paddle-ski which caused the vessel to spring a leak and it began to sink.

To his delight, his rescuers were also able to bring his big catch on board the Rescue 39 Alpha.

He was safely brought to shore and required no further assistance.

The NSRI team thanks the eye-witness for helping them with yet another successful rescue.

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