After a female diver went missing at sea, an extensive sea search party united to bring her to shore. Thanks to their efforts, she was eventually found after three very intense hours fighting waves!
Port Shepstone, South Africa (21 November 2024) — Yesterday saw a flurry of activity in Port Shepstone as vessels, swimmers and aircrafts searched low and high for a female diver who had gone missing at sea.
The 59-year-old Spanish woman—who hardly expected to become a missing person as part of her adventure plans—was part of a recreational dive tour. She became the centre focus for those aboard the dive charter boats early that morning after she reportedly surfaced out of sight.
Backup was called for after initial searching from the dive charter boat teams, and soon, the heroes at NSRI Shelly Beach were activated for a massive sea search party.
With strong North-Easterly winds and swells in at 4 to 5 metres, it was quickly understood there was no time to waste.
NSRI Port Edward duty crew were also called upon, as well as many other services including the Police Search and Rescue, the MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre), a rescue swimmer, pilots flying at least three private fixed wing aircrafts, charter fishing vessels and a helicopter. Needless to say, the search was on and everyone involved had risen hastily to the occasion.
Eventually, the eyes in the sky making up the helicopter part of the search spotted a woman waving her arms frantically—the missing female diver!
The NSRI reports that she had been adrift for over 3 hours and was located nine nautical miles from where she had gone missing.
Thanks to the many hands on deck, the woman was recovered; found to be uninjured and in good spirits. She was soon brought back to shore where her fellow divers couldn’t have been more relieved to see her and an emotional reunion ensued.
As to what had led to her time adrift, the NSR explains that she had surfaced away from the dive boat and out of sight before drifting further and further away due to the wave and wind conditions.
by 