/ 21 April 1999

SEARCH FOR FISHERMEN CALLED OFF

THIRTEEN South African fishermen were presumed drowned off the country’s Eastern Cape coast on Tuesday after rescue services called off a two-day air and sea search for their sunken trawler. During the intensive search, the bodies of three of the 16 crew were fished out of the rough seas Monday off the small port of Cape St. Francis. “The police are still searching the coastline with four-by-fours (vehicles) and motorbikes,” said National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) station commander for Cape St. Francis, Clive Shamley. Police believe most of the men were below deck and asleep when the boat overturned.