Man dies after boat capsizes in Kowie River mouth

The NSRI Port Alfred responded around 8.20 this morning to eyewitness reports of a rigid hull inflatable boat capsized in the Kowie River Mouth, with two people in the water.

The NSRI dispatched their rescue craft Rescue 11 Alpha along with rescue swimmers and their NSRI rescue vehicle. Also on site at East Beach were the SA Police Service, Multi-Security, EC Government Health EMS, Gardmed ambulance services and Life First paramedics, NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said.

Rescuers located a boat capsized in the surf zone at East Beach.

“A local adult man was located and recovered from the water where Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation efforts were commenced,” Lambinon said.

Despite extensive CPR efforts, after all efforts to resuscitate him were exhausted and the 76-year-old man was declared deceased.

The survivor, the adult grandson of the deceased man, visiting from Gauteng, was found on the shoreline. He was transported to a local doctor and was recovering in the care of the doctor and family members.

South African Police Service spokesperson Captain Marius McCarthy said police had opened an Inquest docket and the investigation was ongoing..

Lambinon said it appeared that while exiting the Kowie River Mouth to go out to sea, the boat may have been capsized by waves. He said the boat had been recovered and was in the care of the police.