An East London father and son clung to their overturned boat for five hours before being rescued more than a kilometre out to sea on Monday, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) reported.
The ski-boat capsized when it was hit by a wave three nautical miles out to sea, near the mouth of the Fish River, said NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon.
Tyrone Gower (54) and his son, Eugene (28), tied themselves to the upturned hull — in line with training advice that they stay with the vessel rather than swim for the shore. Both were wearing life-jackets.
They salvaged a five-litre container of water, two bananas and a handful of flares from the boat.
While the flares went unseen, the two were spotted and rescued when they drifted closer to the shore later in the day. — Sapa