Barges beached
The Bay Hospital's Zodwa Zikalala with Ferdinand Etienne Alvarez
Gochan, the sailor from the tug 'Thunderer', who is recovering well
The two barges off the beach on Thursday
Tanya Waterworth
OPERATIONS to salvage two barges which ran aground north of Cape Vidal got underway on Friday morning.
This followed a daring airlift attempt of two injured sailors by local emergency crews during howling winds and massive swells on Wednesday night.
The empty cement barges separated from an American tug after the line snapped in rough seas.
From his bedside in the Bay Hospital, Richards Bay on Friday morning, Chilean sailor and a 35 year veteran of the seas, Ferdinand Etienne Alvarez Gachon described the incident as 'terrifying'.
He said they were in the wheelhouse of the tug 'Thunderer', when a three to four metre waved crashed over them, sending him flying.
'The wave was huge and just rolled us, we were sprawling,' said Gachon.
As both he and a second sailor were injured, the Port of Richards Bay was notified and emergency services were called out.
Tossed around
The Port helicopter flew to the scene and NSRI member Cornel du Toit was lowered down towards the tug, which was being tossed around in eight metre waves.
'The wind must have been around 80km/h and as I got down towards the tug, the winchman decided it was too dangerous to try and land.
'I was pulled back up towards the helicopter and as I got closer up to the chopper, the wind was swinging me around.
'I was literally swinging from one side of the helicopter to the other underneath it.
'I have to give all credit to the helicopter pilots and engineer - they did an amazing job in extremely difficult conditions.
'It was the scariest lift I have ever had,' said Du Toit.
The tug captain decided to try and get into the Port of Richards Bay and the vessel eventually got to the quayside in the early hours of Thursday morning, where a Netcare ambulance was waiting and the two injured sailors were rushed to hospital.
Salvage operation
By midday on Friday, iSimangaliso Wetland Park's Roland Vorwerk said rescue teams from Durban were working to tow the barges, which was a few metres off from the beach, back out to deep waters.
'Two barges ran aground 12km north of Cape Vidal on the Eastern shores of iSimangaliso Wetland Park. The salvage operation could take a couple of days.
'It's hoped that the first barge which is not quite as badly stranded, can be taken out into deeper water.
'No environmental damage is anticipated,' he said.
The salvage operation has proved to be more difficult than anticipated and it is hoped to shift the barges with the spring tide.
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