Deon Langenhoven, NSRI Hermanus station commander, said:  "At 11h00, Thursday, 03rd September, NSRI Hermanus were placed on alert following a request for medical assistance from the fishing trawler BEATRIS MARINE reporting 4 crew members on-board taken ill with suspected gastric illness and needing to be taken off the vessel.

"At that stage they were at deep-sea and confirmed that they would be nearing Hermanus later in the afternoon.

"They requested assistance to bring 4 new crew members out to the vessel to take over from the 4 ill crew.

"At 16h00, with the assistance of radio communications from Telkom Maritime Radio Services, the vessel confirmed to be nearing Walker Bay and at 17h00 NSRI Hermanus duty crew launched the sea rescue craft SOUTH STAR, accompanied by 4 fishermen who would be transferred onto the trawler, and we rendezvoused with BEATRIS MARINE 4 nautical miles off-shore of Danger Point and the 4 ill crew were taken aboard our sea rescue craft and the 4 fresh crew were transferred aboard the trawler.

"The 4 ill crew members, all in stable conditions, all from Cape Town, were brought safely to Hermanus Harbour without incident and they will make their own arrangements to see a doctor and no further assistance was required."

Zoom