3 saved from floods

Sea Rescue – Durban – 02 January, 2011: Teenager missing, 3 rescued – Tugela River:At 20h20 NSRI Durban, NSRI Richard’s Bay, the Police Search and Rescue, the Police Air unit, Netcare 911 ambulance service, Ballito lifeguards and Municipal Kwadakuza lifeguards responded to the Tugela River, between the N2 and the Tugela River Mouth, following reports of a raft wedged on a sand bank in the middle of the Tugela River, with three person’s onboard and a 4th person, a 15 year old male, missing.NSRI Durban and NSRI Richard’s Bay dispatched sea rescue vehicles towing sea rescue craft to the scene and a Police helicopter and Police Search and Rescue vehicles and NSRI rescue swimmers, in their private vehicles, responded to the scene.On arrival on-scene all 3 people, found clinging onto a small SeaMaster 5 man raft, wedged on a sand bank in the middle of the Tugela River, were rescued by a Police helicopter, which landed on the island in the river. They were treated for hypothermia and shock.The survivors have been transported by NSRI to be united with family members at Mandeni Toll Plaza. It is believed they are all from the Tugela area.An extensive search for the 4th person, a 15 year old boy, who was swept off the raft while it drifted down river in the flood swollen waters, revealed no sign of the missing teenager.The raft was swept away by the flood conditions while a 39 year old man, two 14 year old boys and the 15 year old boy, were river rafting.The Police Search and Rescue and will continue a search for the missing teenager.