Search for missing crew members off St. Francis Bay
Search and rescue efforts are continuing for the eight missing crew members of a fishing vessel that capsized off Cape St Francis in the Eastern Cape.
The National Sea Rescue Institute's Craig Lambinon has confirmed that one fisherman on board Maredon has drowned.
He says there are seven known survivors while eight people are still missing.
"The hope is that survivors will be found. The case has been handed over to the police dive unit and NSRI St. Francis Bay will assist the police in the ongoing search and recovery operation," he said.
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The fishing boat capsized and ran aground near Cape St Francis yesterday morning. Lambinon says police divers were able to breach the hull of the stricken vessel - but no crew were found inside.
"At this stage, efforts will be made to examine the hull more closely and to search the surrounding areas around where the vessel ran underground," he said.