Staff Reporter
THE entire crew of a vessel which broke down after sailing from Walvis Bay have been rescued and brought back to shore, whilst a lone man, identified as Lisius Pashukeni Nkandi who decided to venture out at sea in a dingy after the vessel broke down and was missing at sea since Sunday has also been found safe.
It is alleged that the 44-year-old Nkandi abandoned the vessel which broke down on Sunday, 18 August 2024, at around 14:00 in the Atlantic Ocean near Cape Cross, Henties Bay, and struggled to get back to shore due to the rough seas, and was only rescued on Tuesday, 20 August 2024.
According to the Erongo Police’s Senior Inspector Judith Shomongula, it is alleged that on Friday, 02 August 2024, at around 21:30, a Namibian-registered fishing vessel sailed from Walvis Bay Harbour under its own power with ten crew members, including the captain and the chief mate, Lisius Pashukeni Nkandi.
On Saturday, 3 August 2024, while the vessel was sailing, it got stuck due to a problem with the cylinder head, eventually breaking down.
“On Friday, 09 August 2024, with the assistance of some fishing companies, seven crew members disembarked and were brought back to the harbour safely. On Sunday, 18 August 2024, at about 14:00, while the vessel was at position 21-465S 013-53.2E, the victim allegedly disembarked, launched a rubber dinghy without a motor, abandoned the vessel, and sailed toward the land,” Shomongula said.
Video: Contributed
