A British man has died after a sightseeing boat capsized near Cape Town, South Africa, throwing 38 people into shark-infested waters.

Peter Hyett, 64, was on a whale-watching trip with his wife Suzanne, 63 and daughter Helen, 37, off Hout Bay when the tragedy occurred.

Originally from Bournemouth, the couple had retired to south Wales and the family were on the last day of their holiday .

hout bay

Five Britons as well as a number of French citizens and South Africans were believed to be on board


Two other British women Lynette Harmann and Bronwyn Armstrong managed to survive for hours in the freezing waters after breathing oxygen from an airpocket in the hull of the boat.

Miss Hartmann suffered damage to her eyes after diesel in the water became trapped behind her contact lenses. Both women were treated for hypothermia but have been discharged from hospital.

catamaran

Rescue workers communicate with survivors trapped beneath the boat Miroshga


The British consulate for Cape Town, Chris Trott told the Telegraph it must have been "an unimaginably difficult situation" saying "the water was just five degrees when they went in."

Crew member John Roberts was also killed in the accident. The South African had reportedly given his life jacket to one of the four children onboard because the youngster didn't have one.

'Thirty-six people were saved and only a few of the 24 people who were transported to various hospitals remain in hospital for further treatment but all are expected to recover fully,' said a statement on National Sea Rescue Institute's website.

rescue workers

Onlookers said a large wave caused the boat to capsize


A spokesperson for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: “We are aware of a boat capsizing in Hout Bay near Cape Town on Saturday afternoon. We can confirm the a death of a British National in this incident.

“Several British Nationals were also hospitalised following the incident, most of whom have now been released. Our Consul General went to the port immediately after the incident and we are providing consular assistance to all those that need it.”

SAMSA (The South African Maritime Safety Authority) will investigate the cause of the incident, the NSRI said, with witnesses suggesting a large wave caused the catamaran to capsize.

hout_bayparamona

The area around Hout Bay is known as an area of outstanding natural beauty

Loading Slideshow...

  • Rescue personnel carry a body to shore after a boat accident at Houtbay near Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday, Oct 13, 2012. A rescue official says at least one person has been killed and scores have been injured in a boat accident off Hout Bay near the western city of Cape Town. National Sea and Rescue Institute Spokesman Craig Lambinon says rescue teams are still searching for three missing people after a charter boat capsized Saturday off Duiker Island, which is popular with tourists.(AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

  • People gather awaiting news after a boat accident at Houtbay near Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday, Oct 13, 2012. A rescue official says at least one person has been killed and scores have been injured in a boat accident off Hout Bay near the western city of Cape Town. National Sea and Rescue Institute Spokesman Craig Lambinon says rescue teams are still searching for three missing people after a charter boat capsized Saturday off Duiker Island, which is popular with tourists.(AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

  • Rescue personnel hold a sheet to shield a body being carried away after a boat accident at Houtbay near Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday, Oct 13, 2012. A rescue official says at least one person has been killed and scores have been injured in a boat accident off Hout Bay near the western city of Cape Town. National Sea and Rescue Institute Spokesman Craig Lambinon says rescue teams are still searching for three missing people after a charter boat capsized Saturday off Duiker Island, which is popular with tourists. (AP Photo / Schalk van Zuydam)

  • Rescue personnel wait on the quayside after a boat accident at Houtbay near Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday, Oct 13, 2012. A rescue official says at least one person has been killed and scores have been injured in a boat accident off Hout Bay near the western city of Cape Town. National Sea and Rescue Institute Spokesman Craig Lambinon says rescue teams are still searching for three missing people after a charter boat capsized Saturday off Duiker Island, which is popular with tourists.(AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

  • Rescue personnel carry a body to shore after a boat accident at Houtbay near Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday, Oct 13, 2012. A rescue official says at least one person has been killed and scores have been injured in a boat accident off Hout Bay near the western city of Cape Town. National Sea and Rescue Institute Spokesman Craig Lambinon says rescue teams are still searching for three missing people after a charter boat capsized Saturday off Duiker Island, which is popular with tourists. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

  • Rescue personnel carry a body to shore after a boat accident at Houtbay near Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday, Oct 13, 2012.A rescue official says at least one person has been killed and scores have been injured in a boat accident off Hout Bay near the western city of Cape Town. National Sea and Rescue Institute Spokesman Craig Lambinon says rescue teams are still searching for three missing people after a charter boat capsized Saturday off Duiker Island, which is popular with tourists.(AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

  • Rescue personnel arrive back from the site of a boat accident at Houtbay near Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday, Oct 13, 2012. A rescue official says at least one person has been killed and scores have been injured in a boat accident off Hout Bay near the western city of Cape Town. National Sea and Rescue Institute Spokesman Craig Lambinon says rescue teams are still searching for three missing people after a charter boat capsized Saturday off Duiker Island, which is popular with tourists.(AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

  • Rescue personnel carry gear as they arrive back from the scene of a boat accident at Houtbay near Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday, Oct 13, 2012. A rescue official says at least one person has been killed and scores have been injured in a boat accident off Hout Bay near the western city of Cape Town. National Sea and Rescue Institute Spokesman Craig Lambinon says rescue teams are still searching for three missing people after a charter boat capsized Saturday off Duiker Island, which is popular with tourists.(AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

  • Rescue personnel hold a sheet to shield a body as it is offloaded after a boat accident at Houtbay near Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday, Oct 13, 2012. A rescue official says at least one person has been killed and scores have been injured in a boat accident off Hout Bay near the western city of Cape Town. National Sea and Rescue Institute Spokesman Craig Lambinon says rescue teams are still searching for three missing people after a charter boat capsized Saturday off Duiker Island, which is popular with tourists. (AP Photo / Schalk van Zuydam)

  • People, left, look out of a restaurant as Rescue personnel hold a sheet to cover a body as it is offloaded after a boat accident at Houtbay near Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday, Oct 13, 2012. A rescue official says at least one person has been killed and scores have been injured in a boat accident off Hout Bay near the western city of Cape Town. National Sea and Rescue Institute Spokesman Craig Lambinon says rescue teams are still searching for three missing people after a charter boat capsized Saturday off Duiker Island, which is popular with tourists.(AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

  • A survivor is carried by rescue team members after a boat accident at Houtbay near Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012. A rescue official said at least one person has been killed and scores have been injured in the boat accident off Hout Bay near the western city of Cape Town. National Sea and Rescue Institute Spokesman Craig Lambinon said rescue teams are still searching for three missing people after a charter boat capsized Saturday off Duiker Island, which is popular with tourists. (AP Photo/Gareth Smit)

  • Rescue personnel hold a sheet to shield a body which is being carried away after a boat accident at Houtbay near Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday, Oct 13, 2012. A rescue official says at least one person has been killed and scores have been injured in a boat accident off Hout Bay near the western city of Cape Town. National Sea and Rescue Institute Spokesman Craig Lambinon says rescue teams are still searching for three missing people after a charter boat capsized Saturday off Duiker Island, which is popular with tourists.(AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

  • Survivors are assisted by rescue team members after a boat accident at Houtbay near Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012. A rescue official said at least one person has been killed and scores have been injured in a boat accident off Hout Bay near the western city of Cape Town. National Sea and Rescue Institute Spokesman Craig Lambinon said rescue teams are still searching for three missing people after a charter boat capsized Saturday off Duiker Island, which is popular with tourists.(AP Photo/Gareth Smit)

  • A survivor is assisted by rescue team members after a boat accident at Houtbay near Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012. A rescue official said at least one person has been killed and scores have been injured in a boat accident off Hout Bay near the western city of Cape Town. National Sea and Rescue Institute Spokesman Craig Lambinon said rescue teams are still searching for three missing people after a charter boat capsized Saturday off Duiker Island, which is popular with tourists. (AP Photo/Gareth Smit)

  • Family members cry as crewman John Roberts whose body was recovered, the boat he was working on capsized at Hout Bay near Cape Town, South Africa, Sunday, Oct 14, 2012. A rescue official says one man is dead and a local tour guide is missing after a boat capsized off Hout Bay near the western city of Cape Town. Craig Lambinon of the National Sea Rescue Institute said there were 38 people onboard the charter boat Miroshga on Saturday, not 41 as previously assumed, and that there was one fatality. At least 24 of the survivors were hospitalized with serious or minor injuries.(AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

  • Rescue workers carry the body of crewman John Roberts after the boat he was working on capsized at Hout Bay, South Africa, Sunday, Oct 14, 2012. A rescue official says one man is dead and a local tour guide is missing after a boat capsized off Hout Bay near the western city of Cape Town. Craig Lambinon of the National Sea Rescue Institute said there were 38 people onboard the charter boat Miroshga on Saturday, not 41 as previously assumed, and that there was one fatality. At least 24 of the survivors were hospitalized with serious or minor injuries.(AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

  • Sharleen Malan cries after the body of her partner John Roberts a crew member of a capsized boat was recovered, they were to be married next week before the boat he was working on capsized at Hout Bay near Cape Town, South Africa, Sunday, Oct 14, 2012. A rescue official says one man is dead and a local tour guide is missing after a boat capsized off Hout Bay near the western city of Cape Town. Craig Lambinon of the National Sea Rescue Institute said there were 38 people onboard the charter boat Miroshga on Saturday, not 41 as previously assumed, and that there was one fatality. At least 24 of the survivors were hospitalized with serious or minor injuries.(AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)