Spanish woman endures 3 hour ordeal at sea off KZN South Coast
The helicopter hovered above the woman who appeared to be indicating towards the helicopter crew that she was not injured.
A Spanish woman, aged 59, was reported missing earlier today while on a dive at Protea Banks, offshore of Port Shepstone. That was at around 09:00.
Gary Wolmarans, NSRI Shelly Beach station commander, said that the duty crew was activated by the Shelly Beach tower at around 09:30.
The two dive charter boats that were engaged in the recreational charter dive had initiated a search and they raised the alarm.
“The NSRI rescue craft Spirit of Dawn was launched and the rescue vehicle was dispatched,” said Wolmarans.
The NSRI Port Edward duty crew was also activated at station 31, where rescue craft Spirit of Steve, plus he Port Edward rescue vehicle.
Police search and rescue in the shoreline search efforts.
Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre and Transnet National Ports Authority – Durban Port Control were alerted and the Transnet National Ports Authority helicopter, Transnet One, was activated, with two pilots and a hoist operator, accompanied by an NSRI Durban rescue swimmer.
Two charter fishing vessels, Serenity and Pelagic Hunter, launched from Shelly Beach and joined the search.
Telkom Maritime Radio Services assisted with marine VHF communications and broadcast an all ships alert for vessels in the area to be on the lookout.
At least three private fixed wing aircraft, coordinated by Margate Air Traffic Control, assisted in an aerial search.
NSRI Emergency Operations Centre, NSRI operations headquarters, NSRI Durban, NSRI Shelly Beach and NSRI Port Edward duty controllers, plotted coordinated sweeping line search patterns using advanced technology to direct the search operation for rescue resources that were deployed.
During an extensive sea and air search, in four to five metre swells and strong north-easterly winds, the rescue crew on the helicopter spotted the woman adrift in the water at 12:19.
They had had noticed her from the frantic waving of her arms.
The woman had been adrift for more than three hours. She was located nine nautical miles from where she had gone missing and she was five nautical miles offshore of Trafalgar.
The two rescue craft were diverted from their search positions to respond towards the helicopter.
The helicopter hovered above the woman who appeared to be indicating towards the helicopter crew that she was not injured.
The rescue swimmer was prepared to be launched from the helicopter into the water but with the two rescue craft nearby it was decided to wait on the first craft arriving.
The helicopter remained above the woman until the craft arrived at the scene where the woman was rescued by Spirit of Dawn.
Once safely onboard, relieved crew found her to be in good spirits, and not injured.
She was brought to NSRI Shelly Beach where she was joined her fellow divers in an emotional reunion.
It appears that she had surfaced away from the dive boat and out of sight before she began drifting further away.
All resources retuned to base.
“The swift response and cooperation between all services and private charters is commended in this successful search and rescue operation,” said NRSI national spokesman Craig Lambinon.
“The advantage of having the Transnet One helicopter assist in this extensive rescue operation is commended.”
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like the South Coast Herald’s Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram
