After spending the night fishing out at sea, the six fishermen were flung overboard when rough sea conditions caused the boat to capsize.
Donovan Samuels, car guard at The Heads parking area explained, "I was drinking my coffee at the top (outside the NSRI building) this morning (Friday May, 20). I was looking out at sea, watching a fishing boat come in through the Heads; the next thing I saw a big wave and then couldn't see the boat." He continued by telling how he climbed on top of an electrical box to get a better view.
"I kept looking and looking and then saw a life jacket drifting in the water and realised that the boat had capsized." Samuels ran to ask an electrician working in the area to phone the NSRI. "He (the electrician) didn’t have the number and it was taking too long, so I ran to the Augusta Guesthouse and told the manager what happened. Then she phone the NSRI for help.
"Mr Graham (NSRI station commander, Graham Harding) got to the men in the water about 20 minutes after it capsized," he said. Samuels has worked at The Heads for over a decade and has often reported incidents to the NSRI.
Harding explained: "At 10:02 NSRI volunteers were activated following reports of a fishing ski-boat capsized in the Knysna Heads, with six local fishermen onboard, while returning to Knysna from fishing at seas.
"Our NSRI Knysna volunteer duty crew launched our sea rescue craft and responded to the scene, and the SA Police Services, Metro EMS ambulance service, the Metro Red Cross AMS helicopter and private ambulance services responded to stand-by at our sea rescue base at Knysna."
Harding further told that "all six fishermen were recovered from the sea onto our NSRI sea rescue craft, and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) efforts were initiated on two of the fishermen".
An ER24 press release reads, "Two of the men were not breathing and had no pulse. Resuscitation efforts commenced immediately as the men were taken ashore."
Once ashore, the NSRI volunteer crew, assisted by the Metro and ER paramedics continued administering CPR on both Andrews and Van Rooyen for an estimated 20 minutes, after which local Knysna urologist, Dr Grant Trollip, declared them dead.
The surviving four fishermen were placed under warm showers and transported to the Knysna Provincial Hospital by ambulance. They were all discharged the following day.
Owner of the 'Liebe', Gerhard Liebenberg, explained that he had two vessels returning from an overnight fishing expedition on Friday. "My other boat, 'Wakker Geloop' was already moored and we were waiting for Liebe to dock so that I could take all the crew members home at the same time." According to Liebenberg, a friend called him to say that a ski-boat had overturned in the Heads. "When I heard what had happened I just knew that it was my boat, something inside me just knew."
On driving to the scene he called Harding, who explained the situation to him. "Although I was told that Gerhard and Dawid's condition was serious, I still believed that when I arrived at the Heads, all six fishermen would be sitting up, wrapped in space blankets. I was very shocked to find the NSRI still trying to revive Gerhard and Dawid."
Once Dr Trollip had declared the two men dead, a stunned Liebenberg sat staring out at sea, the impact of what had happened clearly visible on his face.
Possible cause
Liebenberg explained that his crew members said that "when you come through the Heads, you just ride the crest of a wave. So when the Liebe came in she was riding the crest of a wave, and then an enormous wave stood up right on its back." He further explained that, on an outgoing rip-tide, waves often occur "one on top of the other". Liebenberg speculated that the wave must have broken onto the deck of the boat. "That's when the four survivors where flung into the sea. They say that, once in the water, they saw the boat ride the wave. I think that the skipper, Gerhard, and Dawid were standing on the prow, and when the boat capsized, that is when they were flung out."
He also speculated that their life jackets may have been forced up during the ordeal, forcing them to float face down in the water.
Liebenberg is considering legal action against a daily tabloid newspaper that had speculated that the engines on board the Liebe were dysfunctional. "The journalist never spoke to me and in the article I am quoted as saying things that I never said." In the tabloid it was reported that a crew member had said that the engines were damaged two weeks prior to the accident.
Liebenberg explained that the Liebe struck a tree stump months ago "as boats often do in our lagoon, but the prop was replaced and there were no problems with the two outboard motors".
He further explained that an insurance assessor had inspected the engines, finding that the motors could not be repaired, because "the conrods in the motors were bent. This only happens when the engines are still running once submerged."
The Knysna Sea Rescue volunteers towed the upturned vessel, in the capsized position, to shore where it was handed over to South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) officials.
SAMSA inspected the wreckage of Liebe as part of an investigation into the tragedy. The results of the investigation were not yet available at time of going to press.
The police have opened an inquest docket.
Harding said, "Sea conditions were relatively flat and calm but the conditions in The Heads itself were rough."
Ready to return to the ocean
The four surviving fishermen were taken to the NSRI on Monday, May 23, to retrieve what they could from the salvaged wreckage and, according to Liebenberg, asked, "when I was going to buy a new boat. They are ready to return to the trade and the sea that they love." Asked whether he would replace the lost Liebe, he replied, "Most definitely. We have to replace her to fill this emptiness that we have inside."
Condolences
Knysna DA party expressed its deepest sympathy and condolences with the families and communities of the two fishermen who drowned so tragically. "Our thoughts and feelings are with you all," said Jayne Boccaleane, DA spokesperson.
The mayor elect, Georlene Wolmarans, said: "This is indeed a terrible tragedy for the two families
and for Knysna. Those who fish in the ocean surrounding Knysna are very courageous men who risk their lives in a daily struggle against nature to earn a living for their families. We honour and salute them all and give our heartfelt compassion to loved ones left behind. Mr David van Rooyen was the father of one of our most hard-working activists, Mr Benjamine (Benny) Charlson, and we are very aware of the shadow that this dreadful accident casts on us all."
Wolmarans went straight to both families after hearing of the accident on Friday to offer comfort, support and help.
Michelle Wasserman, newly elected ward councilor for Sunridge in Hornlee, together with Wolmerans visited the families on Tuesday afternoon, May 24 to deliver flowers and food parcels. "Individual members of the DA, acting in their personal capacity, will assist both families with the funeral arrangements," concluded Boccaleone.
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Members of the Knysna NSRI, Metro and ER24 paramedics performing CPR on two of the six fishermen. These two fishermen were later declared dead by local urologist, Dr Grant Trollip.
ARTICLE: FRAN KIRSTEN
