GQEBERHA – A man died after a manganese side-tipper truck and trailer plunged into the harbour at the Port of Ngqura in Gqeberha on 2 September.

According to Mark Dawson, NSRI Gqeberha station commander, at 18:07 on 2 September, NSRI Gqeberha duty crew were placed on alert following reports on the Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) water rescue committee of a manganese side-tipper truck and trailer that had gone into the harbour and was partially submerged at the Port of Ngqura in Gqeberha.

He said NSRI crew stood by at the NSRI Gqeberha Station 6 rescue base, prepared to launch a rescue craft.

Dawson said the SA Police Service, Police K9 Search and Rescue, Police divers from the Water Policing and Diving Service (WPDS), Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), Gqeberha Fire and Rescue Service, EC Government Health EMS, Relay Ambulance Service, Coastal Water Rescue, commercial divers and riggers, as well as representatives of the trucking company and shipping agent, were in attendance.

“It was believed that the driver, single occupant, was trapped in the cab of the truck under water,” said Dawson.

He said that at 21:46, NSRI Gqeberha was activated to assist with the ongoing rescue and recovery operation, and the NSRI rescue craft Rescue 6 Alpha was launched.

Dawson said that, on arrival at the scene, the NSRI rescue craft assisted by standing by as a safety vessel while commercial divers and riggers rigged technical lifting apparatus to the truck, which was then recovered from the water.

“During the recovery of the truck, the body of the adult male driver was located and recovered from the water and brought to shore aboard the NSRI rescue craft. He was taken into the care of paramedics, who sadly declared him deceased,” said Dawson.

He said the body of the man was taken into the care of police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.

Dawson also said the cause of the accident was under investigation by police and authorities, and police had opened an inquest docket.

“Condolences are conveyed to the family of the deceased man,” said Dawson.

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