Woman who fell into Hout Bay harbour dies despite fishermen's brave rescue bid

A woman drowned after falling into the sea at Hout Bay harbour on Friday night‚ the National Sea Rescue confirmed on Saturday.

SRI medics arrived at the harbour’s North Breaker Wall to find a bystander trying to revive the woman‚ who had been plucked out of the water by two fishermen.

Efforts to resuscitate her failed and she was declared dead at the scene. She was identified only as a member of the local fishing community.

The two rescuers were also treated for hypothermia.

“It appears that the female had fallen into the water in the harbour and two fishermen‚ from a fishing boat moored in the harbour‚ had reportedly jumped into the water to rescue her while a fellow fishermen had raised the alarm‚” the NSRI said in a statement.

“The body of the deceased female has been taken into the care of the forensic pathology services and police have opened an inquest docket.”