According to Stephen Slade, NSRI Port Alfred station commander, at 17h28, Saturday, 24th February, NSRI Port Alfred launched two sea rescue craft, Lotto Challenger and Rescue 11 Alpha, following credible eye-witness reports of nine illuminating flares deployed at intervals coming from deep-sea off-shore of Port Alfred.
An extensive search by NSRI Port Alfred well into the night, including the assistance of Telkom Maritime Radio Services, requesting assistance in a search and requesting any information that could assist in identifying the origin of the flares revealed no signs of any craft or seagoing vessels in any distress.
The reason for the flares being deployed remains a mystery.
