[imagesource:x/deanwingrin]

Three people – including a female officer – have tragically died at sea, near Kommetjie, in a South African Navy vessel accident, whilst another person is in hospital, in critical condition, fighting for their life.

The huge rescue operation got underway at Slangkop Lighthouse just off Kommetjie, near Cape Town, on Wednesday to rescue the navy mariners after they were apparently washed off the deck of a submarine.

National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesperson Craig Lambinon said in a late afternoon update on Wednesday that two people had died, two were taken to hospital for treatment and four others appeared to be well after being rescued.

Lambinon said while it was initially believed the victims were navy divers, they are in fact mariners. By Wednesday evening social media was flooded with reports of the incident:

MEDIA STATEMENT
Just released by the SA Navy pic.twitter.com/RkehFHiiIl

— Dean Wingrin (@deanwingrin) September 20, 2023

For seven crew members of the SA Navy submarine SAS Manthatisi to be swept out to sea, and three lives lost, indicates “a serious failure somewhere”, a defence expert told News24.https://t.co/G8gZqNrv7c

— News24 (@News24) September 21, 2023

RIP to those who lost their lives.

[source:timeslive]