NATIONAL NEWS - Two people died when their yacht ran aground and broke into pieces on the Cape West Coast between Melkbosstrand and Yzerfontein in the early hours of Monday morning.

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said in a statement that there were three crew members on-board the yacht which was reportedly sailing from Langebaan to Cape Town.

The NSRI’s Craig Lambinon said: “A survivor, a 66-year-old male, an Irish citizen, a resident in the Western Cape, had managed to get to shore and he had raised the alarm. He was not injured.

“The bodies of a 61-year-old male, a Scottish citizen, and a 49-year-old female, an Irish citizen, both residents in the Western Cape, were located and recovered from the scene and paramedics confirmed that they were both deceased and their bodies have been taken into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services.”

According to Lambinon, at 4h31am on Monday, NSRI Yzerfontein, NSRI Melkbosstrand and NSRI Table Bay duty crews were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) following reports of a yacht capsized between Bokpunt and Gansekraal on the West Coast.

He said an NSRI Melkbosstrand sea rescue craft was launched and NSRI rescue vehicles, from NSRI Yzerfontein and NSRI Melkbosstrand, the SA Police Services, the Western Cape Government Health EMS and an EMS rescue squad and a Police Dive Unit responded. The NSRI Table Bay’s deep sea rescue craft was placed on alert.

“On arrival on the scene, the local yacht Tara was found broken up in amongst rocks on the shore line,” Lambinon said. “It is unknown what caused the yacht to run aground and it could not be confirmed if the yacht had capsized before running aground and SAMSA (South African Maritime Safety Authority) will investigate.”

An inquest docket has been opened by police while the families of the victims were being assisted by foreign consulates.