What was supposed to be a scenic lookout for tourists and residents has become associated with tragedy. This after an unknown man fell at Gearings Point on Thursday. He was pronounced dead on the scene.
According to Captain Fidela September, spokesperson of the Hermanus police, an unknown male between 40 and 50 years old apparently fell from the harbour wall into the sea. “He was declared deceased on the scene and rescue members removed the body from the rocks,” she said.
The cause of the tragedy, which occurred at 14:23, cannot yet be determined and eyewitnesses have different versions of what actually happened there. “I saw the deceased talking on his cellphone and then I just saw him jump over the wall into the water. I am shocked,” an eyewitness who prefers to remain anonymous said.
Other eyewitnesses believe he took photos, lost his balance and fell over the wall.
A member of the Sandbaai Neighbourhood Watch was also on the scene when the deceased was lifted from the water. “I went down to help one of the divers who was near the scene and immediately phoned the rescue services and ambulance,” the member said.
According to the Hermanus police, they have asked eyewitnesses to come forward with more information. “At this stage we ask any eyewitnesses to contact us with more information,” Captain FC van Wyk, provincial police spokesperson said. He added a death inquest case docket had been registered.
Social media were buzzing about the safety of people at Gearings Point. Some Facebook users believe the Overstrand Municipality should intervene to make the area safer.
Gearings Point is the best spot to look for whales when entering Hermanus and is central to the Old Harbour Museum, the Tourist Info Centre and loads of great restaurants. In 2013 the 14-year-old son of the well-known actor Waldemar Schultz died in an 18 m fall from Gearings Point. According to sources Kieran was balancing on a low wall at the cliff when he fell.
At time of going to press the deceased had not been identified. On 27 April Hermanus Times reported about a man who sustained critical head and neck injuries after falling off the cliffs near The Marine Hotel (“Man falls down cliff, badly hurt”). He sustained skull fractures, his neck was broken and the left side of his body was paralysed due to bleeding on the right side of his brain. Last week the man died in hospital.