NSRI Rocky Bay duty crew were activated last Friday morning following reports of a diver missing offshore of Hibberdene on the KZN South Coast.
“A female diver, aged in her 50s, from Johannesburg, had last been seen at around 08:30 during a charter dive about three nautical miles offshore of the Mzimayi River,” said Kevin Fourie, NSRI Rocky Bay station commander.
The dive charter boat initiated a search.
NSRI Rocky Bay rescue craft, Megan II, and NSRI Shelly Beach rescue craft, Spirit of Dawn, were launched while NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), NSRI Headquarters duty controllers, NSRI Rocky Bay duty controllers, NSRI Durban duty controllers and NSRI Shelly Beach duty controllers assisted MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) to plot search grids taking into account sea currents drift and wind speed and wind direction.
NSRI Port Edward and NSRI Durban were placed on alert.
Two private fixed-wing aircraft joined in the search.
MRCC activated the SA Air Force 15 Squadron which deployed a SAAF 15 Squadron BK-119 helicopter to join in the search, accompanied by NSRI Durban rescue swimmers.
Telkom Maritime Radio Services broadcast an all ships alert for vessels in the area to keep a sharp lookout and they assisted with VHF radio communications.
The husband and two sons of the missing diver, who had been on the same dive, were kept briefed and comforted at the NSRI Rocky Bay rescuer station while they anxiously waited on news.
During an extensive search the husband received a call on his mobile phone from an unknown number at around 14:00.
His wife had come ashore on the southern side of Mtwalume at around 13:30 and she had hiked to a roadway where she came across a resident at his home who he provided assistance and she was able to call her husband.
The dive charter company transported the husband to the location and the woman was brought to the dive charter company’s offices.
She was hydrated and rested but was otherwise not injured.
“We believe she had covered about 10 nautical miles over five hours before coming ashore,” said Fourie.
NSRI commend the diver for staying calm as she gradually used currents to make it safely to the shore. She had hiked a few kilometres before reaching the resident who assisted her.
The dive charter company, the private fixed-wing aircraft and all rescue resources involved are commended for the swift reaction and the extensive search operation.
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