News

At approximately 14:15 Table Mountain National Park Marine Rangers, while patrolling the Cape Point Atlantic sea-board aboard their rigid hull inflatable boat (RIB) Aonyx, responded to a red distress flare they had witnessed being fired off-shore in the direction of Oliphantsbospunt.

On arrival on-scene, at Menskop Point, the 3 Marine Rangers aboard their 5 metre RIB ‘Aonyx’ found a 14 foot ski boat ‘Old Beggar’ capsized in the surf with a male and a female clinging to the upturned hull of the capsized vessel approximately 120 metres off-shore and another male already on the beach (they are: skipper Moegammat Raven, Delia Franke and 1 other male crew – all from Oceanview).

Two Marine Rangers were deployed into the water, secured the two casualties, one could not swim and buddy swam the two casualties back through the surf to the beach in a successful rescue effort. All 3 casualties were then medically stabilized by the Marine Rangers and required re warming procedures for mild hypothermia and shock and were taken by the Marine Rangers to the Table Mountain National Park offices at Klaasjagerberg nearby where they were taken to hospital by Ambulance.

The Metro Rescue Red Cross AMS helicopter was placed on alert but not required. The female casualty, Delia Franke (39), was taken to False Bay hospital in a stable condition by the Netcare 911 ambulance for treatment for hypothermia and is reported to be stable.

Darren Zimmerman, Station Commander NSRI Simons Town Station 10 said: ‘When we arrived on scene all 3 patients were already well taken care of by the Marine Rangers who are commended for their quick action in the successful rescue operation”.

The capsized craft washed up with its equipment and fuel between Olifantsbos and Scarborough Fence and the owner started salvage procedures the next day.

Robin Adams
Operations Manager TMNP MPA
021 7865656 082 923 1389