Elderly fisherman in hospital after heroic rescue in Isipingo
An elderly fisherman is receiving treatment in hospital after he was repeatedly struck by a boat that capsized after it experienced engine failure at Reunion Beach in Isipingo.
It's understood one of the boat's motors packed up earlier this afternoon as it was coming through the surf.
A wave picked it up from behind, throwing everyone overboard.
Netcare911's Chris Botha says lifeguards at Amanzimtoti Beach went out to assist the three fishermen.
"Two of them managed to swim [to safety] but the 65-year-old was hit by the boat three times as the boat spun out of control in the water. He had sustained very, very serious injuries and was in a serious condition when we arrived at the scene."
"The life-saving guys were there initially. They managed to swim out on a board and heroically swim towards the boat that was out of control and jump on board it to cut the motors. [One of them had to go back and take the patient on a board back to the beach," he said.
The 65-year-old man was taken to a hospital in Amanzimtoti where he is receiving emergency care.
The other two crew were able to go back and retrieve their boat.
