GEIS-新闻详情

Two missing men and a burned boat: South Africa stumped by maritime mystery

2024-03-18 00:00:00.0 独立报-世界新闻原网页

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails

Please enter a valid email address

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice

Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email

{{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

South African authorities searching for a missing charter boat captain fear foul play after they discovered his vessel burned and abandoned on a beach in neighboring Mozambique, but no sign of him or the unknown man who hired him.

The National Sea Rescue Institute raised the alarm over captain John Matambu and his passenger after they didn't return to Sodwana Bay on South Africa's northeastern coast on Saturday evening having gone out early that morning.

The charred wreck of Matambu's speed boat, Magnum Too, was discovered by a search plane on Sunday in the Dobela area of Mozambique, some 170 kilometers (105 miles) up the coast.

“Both men remain missing in unknown circumstances,” the National Sea Rescue Institute said.

Matambu's cousin told local media that a petrol canister and a medical kit were found near the boat.

RECOMMENDED

The world’s deadliest infectious disease is on the rise in the UK

Undo

XL bully attack witnesses describe bloody horror as dog savaged four people in street

Undo

Favorite Searches

Unsold All-Inclusive Holiday Packages Selling Cheap (Take A Look)Favorite Searches| Sponsored Sponsored

Undo

GoSearches

Almost-Empty Mediterranean Cruises Might Be Going On Clearance (Take A Look)GoSearches| Sponsored Sponsored

Undo

Map of the burnt out boat

" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/03/18/17/South-Africa-Burned-Boat_30163.jpg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/03/18/17/South-Africa-Burned-Boat_30163.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/03/18/17/South-Africa-Burned-Boat_30163.jpg" data-gallery-length="2" class="i-amphtml-fill-content i-amphtml-replaced-content" pinger-seen="true">

Map of the burnt out boat

The NSRI said some of the circumstances “appear to indicate that foul play may be involved.”

The man who hired Matambu to take him out on the 21-foot (6.4-meter) boat apparently gave false contact details, NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said. The booking was made for a man, his wife and a child, but only the man boarded the boat, Lambinon said.

"Hopes are that this has all been a misunderstanding, and foul play was not involved, but at this stage all possibilities are being examined," Lambinon told national broadcaster SABC. “The fact that the boat has been found across the border is obviously the difficulty now.”

The NSRI received a report that the boat was spotted at 10 p.m. Saturday night heading north toward Mozambican waters, it said, the last sighting before its charred hull was discovered the following day.

Promoted stories

Affordable Funerals

The Surprising Truth About Fuss-Free Funerals and Cremations In The UKAffordable Funerals

Undo

by Taboola by Taboola