A woman has died, and a man is in a serious condition in hospital after an incident at sea, while angling at Tietiesbaai on the West Coast.  

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesperson, Craig Lambinon, says rescue teams were deployed on Tuesday at 15:47 to assist a man and woman who fell into trouble at sea.  

While the initial distress call suggested that the incident was related to a boat capsizing, Lambinon said it was later confirmed that the victims were anglers fishing from the shoreline. The woman is said to have fallen into the waters, and her boyfriend had then tried to rescue her. 

The couple, according to Lambinon, are 26 years old and from Paternoster. 

“It reportedly became evident that while angling from the shoreline there may have been three locals, 2 men and a female, fishing on rocks along the shoreline. The female had reportedly fallen into the surf where her boyfriend had attempted to rescue her from the water, while, we believe, their male friend had gone to get help,” said Lambinon. 

Rescue teams, including the SA Police Service, EMS, NSRI and West Coast Medical Rescue, responded to the scene. 

Lambinon said the male victim was treated on the scene before being transported to the hospital. He was in a serious condition but is in recovery.  

While the male victim was being treated, a search for the woman ensued.  

Lambinon noted that a drone was deployed, which located the woman’s body in the waters, and an NSRI rescue craft was then deployed to recover her body.  

Despite efforts to revive her, she was declared dead by paramedics. 

“The NSRI rescue craft brought the female to St Helena Bay harbour where EMS paramedics boarded the rescue craft but sadly the female was declared deceased by paramedics. The body of the deceased female was taken into the care of Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services,” added Lambinon. 

Western Cape SAPS confirmed that an inquest docket was registered at the Vredenburg Police Station, in connection with the woman’s death.  

“The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation. A post-mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death,” said spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg.