Share

British man and Irish woman die after yacht sinks in South Africa

TWO PEOPLE, INCLUDING an Irish woman, have died in South Africa after a yacht they were sailing in ran aground.

Advertisement

He was unhurt. The bodies of a 61-year-old Scotsman and a 49-year-old Irish woman were recovered. He suffered a gash to the head and was bleeding when he reached the beach where he was able to raise the alarm.

Sea rescue crafts responded along with a police dive unit but the the yacht, Tara, was discovered broken up among rocks on the shore.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed they are aware of “the death of an Irish citizen in the Western Cape and consular assistance is being provided”.

Speaking yesterday, South Africa’s National Sea Rescue Institute spokesman Craig Lambinon confirmed that there had been three people on board the vessel that was travelling to Cape Town.

SAMSA (South African Maritime Safety Authority) are conducting investigations following the accident.

The boat turned over between Melkbosstrand and Yzerfontein on the West Coast in Western Cape.

Police are also investigating the incident.

Advertisement

It is not known whether the yacht capsized before running aground or what caused the yacht to run aground.

The scene where a tacht ran into trouble and was found crashed into rocks on the western coast of South Africa