Crewman killed as ski-boat capsizes

By Graeson Haw

EAST LONDON -- A ski-boat fisherman died and seven were plucked from the mouth of the Kowie River at Port Alfred when their boat, Dodger, "cartwheeled" in heavy swells yesterday afternoon.

The National Sea Rescue Institute station commander, Tommy Winternitz, said the eight metre P26 ski-boat flipped and capsized as it tried to enter the mouth of the river in a 15knot south-easterly and 2,5 metre swells.

Winternitz said this was the first fatality recorded by the NSRI this year.

An NSRI crew took an Afrox Rescuer 1 and went to the aid of the stricken vessel which is owned by Port Alfred businesswoman Rita van Ginkel.

Van Ginkel's son, Peter, was on board Dodger when it flipped. Peter identified the dead crewman as Raymond Campbell.

The NSRI found the crew hanging onto the capsized vessel trying to resuscitate Campbell. "By the time we got there he was for all intents and purposes already dead," Winternitz said.