A Cape Town fisherman is presumed to have drowned after he went missing at sea off Cape Point, the National Sea Rescue Institute said on Friday.

“It appears that the fisherman, 51, from Khayelitsha, had gone on stern watch at 1am and was discovered to be missing at 1.59am,” said spokesman Craig Lambinon.

NSRI duty crews were activated on Thursday when the Transnet National Ports Authority reported a man overboard from a fishing trawler about 40 nautical miles south of Cape Point.

“Despite an extensive search throughout Thursday morning no sign of the missing fisherman has been found. The fisherman is missing at sea and is presumed to have drowned.” SAPA