At 13h30, Friday, 19th June, NSRI Durban duty crew and NSRI Richards Bay duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) following a report of a female missing off the yacht ORYX, 6 nautical miles off-shore of the Tugela River Mouth (between Durban and Richards Bay).
The skipper raised the alarm reporting that he had been asleep and when he awoke his wife was missing off their yacht (missing from unknown causes).
The yacht is sailing from Durban to Madagascar and departed from the Port of Durban yesterday with a husband and wife onboard.
Despite an initial search the skipper had found no sign of his wife.
The skipper of the yacht is from the United Kingdom and his missing wife is originally from Johannesburg.
NSRI Durban’s sea rescue craft EIKOS RESCUER II and MEGAN II, NSRI Richards Bay’s sea rescue craft SPIRIT OF RICHARDS BAY, sea rescue vehicles from Durban and from Richards Bay, a Natal Sharks Board fixed wing aircraft, a Durban TNPA rescue helicopter and a Richards Bay TNPA rescue helicopter, both accompanied by NSRI ASR rescue swimmers and an SA Air Force 15 Squadron Oryx helicopter, accompanied by NSRI ASR rescue swimmers, are deployed and are engaged in an extensive sea, shore and air search and rescue operation for a missing 58 year old female, missing off the yacht ORYX since earlier today.
The search is concentrated in the vicinity off-shore of the Tugela River Mouth approximately 6 nautical miles off-shore and Southwards towards Durban.
Planned road works along Josiah Gumede Road in Pinetown