Family mourn fisherman who lived for the sea

Hawston fisherman Solly Booysen, who drowned in False Bay, is expected to be buried on Saturday.

His friend, Awie Tim, is still missing at sea after the duo's boat ran into engine trouble, drifted into rough water and capsized at the weekend.

Booysen's body was found near Buffel's Bay in the Cape Point section of the Table Mountain National Park.

Their ski boat, Mtombi, was found floating in the bay and towed to shore by the NSRI.

Booysen's brother Freddy said he had officially identified his brother's body at the Salt River Mortuary on Monday, and would visit the Simon's Town police station on Tuesday to collect the ill-fated boat and some of his brother's belongings.

Another Booysen sibling, Colin, said Solly had "lived for the sea".

He leaves a girlfriend and two young children.

NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said the craft had apparently lost power at about midday on Saturday, seven hours after launching from Hawston.

He said a strong wind of 40km/h, and a swell of between 3m and 4m, had exacerbated the men's problems when their engine failed.

Boats from the NSRI's Gordon's Bay and Hermanus stations, as well as a Metro helicopter, took part in the search for the men from 12.30pm on Saturday.

Lambinon said rescuers had spoken to Booysen by cellphone, but that he could not see land to pinpoint his position. They then lost contact.

Booysen and the boat were found shortly afterwards.

Source: www.iol.co.za