The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) has removed the body of a Chinese sailor who died while at sea, it announced on Thursday.

East London NSRI Station Commander Geoff McGreggor said the 19-year-old crewman died on Wednesday night, after he was injured while attempting to secure containers aboard the ship in a heavy sea.

"The Long Jiang ship raced through the night to reach East London from where the nearest appropriate medical support could be dispatched to meet the ship."

The crewman however died before the ship arrived, and was confirmed dead by an NSRI rescuer and a paramedic in East London.

Treatment was administered to a second Chinese crewman (45), who had fractured his right arm.

The body of the deceased was removed by the ship's agent and the SA Police Service.

The names of the deceased and the injured were not released.

Sapa