Four in lucky escape after boat capsizes in Algoa Bay

Four people, including a woman, escaped unhurt after their boat capsized in Algoa Bay over the weekend.

"The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) in Port Elizabeth dispatched the sea rescue craft, Eikos Rescuer IV, following reports that the Transnet National Ports Authority had dispatched the Chokka fishing vessel, Squidder, to assist four persons clinging onto the upturned hull of their capsized boat, In for Fun, 1.5 nautical miles off-shore of the Port of Port Elizabeth," described Ian Gray, NSRI Port Elizabeth station commander.

"On the NSRI’s arrival on the scene, all four crew of the capsized craft, the skipper/owner a South African man, two Romanian men and a British female were found safe on the fishing vessel and their capsized boat remained in the water."

Gray said that the casualties were taken ashore aboard Squidder "and we towed their capsized boat to the Darby Venture Crane, which was used to right the boat and the righted casualty craft we then towed to Pedsac slip way where it was recovered".

"We believe the boat capsized after lines they had in the water had fouled their motors causing the boat to be swamped by water and rolling over and none of the four were injured and they required no further assistance," he said.