The body of a local, well-known businessman and previous owner of Braam’s Toyota in Joubertina, Braam Kritzinger (63), was recovered in the surf near Shark Point in St Francis Bay on May 16.
According to spokesperson for the NSRI, Craig Lambinon, at about 07:52 the NSRI St Francis Bay duty crew were activated following reports of a local Catamaran fishing craft that was found unmanned. It appeared to have washed onto rocks at Shark Point, west of Shark Point Light.
“The craft was identified as belonging to a local man (Kritzinger) who regularly fishes on his boat at Shark Point. It was immediately suspected that the fisherman may be missing,” Lambinon said.
He said a fisherman who had come across the casualty craft had raised the alarm and initiated a search in the immediate area.
Lambinon said the NSRI St Francis Bay rescue craft Spirit of St Francis II was launched while NSRI shore crew responded to the land side of Shark Point.
The SAPS, the Police Dive Unit, EC Government Health EMS, Private Care ambulance services and drone operators of the local Air Sea Rescue Network responded.
Lambinon said a number of public members volunteered to assist and were deployed to join in the search.
“A total of seven local fishing craft joined the NSRI rescue craft in the sea search,” said Lambinon.
He said the NSRI St Francis Bay duty controllers, the SA Police Services, TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) and NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) assisted MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) in coordinating a search operation.
Lambinon further said a helicopter was dispatched from Gqeberha to join in the search and the Telkom Maritime Radio Services assisted with Marine communications and broadcast on all ships alert.
He said during an air, sea and shoreline search the body of a man was located and recovered in the surf close to the rocks near to Shark Point at 08:55.
Lambinon said the body of the deceased was taken into the care of Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.
He further said police have opened an inquest docket and efforts will be made to recover the casualty craft from the rocks.
“Condolences are conveyed to the family of the deceased man,” said Lambinon.
Police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu confirmed the deceased’s name.
According to Netwerk24, Kritzinger sold his dealership in February 2022 when he retired. The dealership is now known as Joubertina Toyota.
