Two fishermen drowned and a third was rescued after their ski boat capsized off Bantry Bay last week.
Two fishermen drowned and a third was rescued by the National Sea Rescue Institute after their ski boat capsized at Bantry Bay on Thursday last week.
Emergency services responded just after 2pm after eyewitnesses reported seeing the boat capsize in the back breakers surf zone, between Saunders Rocks and Queens Beach, Bantry Bay, says NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon
“Bystanders had deployed NSRI pink rescue buoys into the surf where we believe at least two casualties may have reached pink rescue buoys, using them to stay afloat.
“NSRI rescue swimmers, arriving on the scene first, entered the water where they reached a male, believed to be aged in his 20s, and they reached a male believed to be aged in his 60s, both offshore of Queens Beach,” said Mr Lambinon.
The rescue swimmer brought the younger man to shore where he was treated by paramedics for hypothermia and non-fatal drowning symptoms, and he was transported to hospital by ambulance in a stable condition.
“The second casualty, who was unresponsive in the water, was assisted to stay afloat by the rescue swimmer, and he was then rescued onto the NSRI rescue craft. The man remained unresponsive, medical treatment was commenced. He was brought to the Three Anchor slipway where paramedics continued with CPR efforts.”
Meanwhile, the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter found the third man, also believed to be in his 60s, in the surf zone after searching the shoreline.
A rescue diver who deployed from the helicopter was able to reach the man, but he was unresponsive.
The helicopter hoisted both the diver and the casualty to the Queens Beach parking lot on a static line where paramedics performed CPR.
However, paramedics had been unable to revive either of the two older men and they were declared deceased, said Mr Lambinon.
Sea Point police patrol officers found the boat, which had been crushed against the rocky shoreline.