Man dies landing 150kg marlin
Witnesses said there was total confusion on board the rubber duck.
A DIVER died of an apparent heart attack after spearing a 150kg marlin off Scottburgh on Sunday.
Meanwhile, accusations are now being bandied about that the man’s friend – who first speared the giant game fish at a depth of about 35m – appeared to be more interested in his catch than his buddy in distress.
Johan Dempers (54), of Warner Beach, had just entered the water from a rubber duck to help his friend who had already shot the marlin and was fighting to bring it to the surface on a 5m line.
Johan fired another spear into the marlin and it is thought he was dragged beneath the water and possibly started to drown.
He surfaced eventually and let out a huge breath. Others on the rubber duck realised he was in distress. They hauled him on board, where he collapsed.
Witnesses said that the crew screamed at the other spear fisherman to ‘cut loose’ and help, but he ‘appeared to choose his fish over his friend’, said one source.
Meanwhile, the crew radioed other boats in the area, taking part in the Natal Interzonal Fishing Competition, for assistance.
Rob Gemmell, skipper of the boat ‘Half a Dozen’ rushed to the scene.
Witnesses said there was total confusion on board the rubber duck.
Rob could not get his boat close to Johan’s vessel, apparently because of a network of fishing lines in the water. Another member of his crew, Bruce Jackson, had to dive across to the rubber duck in order to administer CPR.
Meanwhile, Rob radioed Ant Diplock, of Umkomaas, as he had a doctor on board his dive boat. He arrived shortly afterwards and continued to battle to revive Johan.
They took Johan back to the beach near the Cutty Sark Hotel where paramedics were waiting.
He was pronounced dead.
Meanwhile, back at sea, the marlin was transferred to another boat – as it was too big for the rubber duck – and the spear fisherman collected his prize catch at the Pennington Ski-boat Club later that day.
Investigations are continuing.
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