NSRI rescue team found a trailer and vehicle in Hermanus

Mluleki Mrwebi
24 September 2013

The National Sea Rescue Institute and Hermanus volunteer sea rescue duty crew were on Monday activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority following eye-witness reports of red distress flares sighted deep-sea off-shore of Kleinmond, between Hermanus and Gordons Bay.

NSRI Spokesperson Craig Lambinon said the NSRI Hermanus volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched the sea rescue craft SOUTH STAR and the NSRI sea rescue craft HUNTERS GOLD RESCUER was towed to Hangklip and launched in Hangklip.

Lambinon said with no reports of anyone missing or overdue investigations were initiated to search for abandoned vehicles and boat trailers along the coastline that could possibly be related to the distress flares while sea rescue craft responded to initiate a search in the vicinity of where eye-witnesses had reporting seeing the red distress flares.

He added that a boat trailer and vehicle were found at the Hangklip slip way and details found on the boat trailer referred rescuers to the fishing boat ARALDA III but all attempts to reach these contact cellphone numbers failed and it was suspected that this vessel, now also reportedly overdue from fishing, may be the vessel related to the red distress flares.