PORT SHEPSTONE – Saturday 04th February 2012. Husband and wife drown:At 12h02 on Saturday 04th February NSRI Shelly Beach volunteers were called to a double drowning in progress just north of the Umzimkulu River Mouth, Port Shepstone.Our duty crew launched their Discovery Rescue Runner and our rescue vehicle towed our sea rescue craft Le Genmar which was launched on-scene. The SA Police Services, Medivac ambulance service, a Police helicopter and a Police Search and Rescue Squad also responded to join SA Lifesaving lifeguards on-scene.On arrival a search commenced for a husband and wife that eye-witnesses had reported seeing in ankle deep water, close to the edge on the beach, when, it appeared that the sand in the water caved in, leaving both in deep water before they were swept out to sea.Eye-witnesses gave further accounts saying that it appeared that neither of the two could swim before they both disappeared under water.During the search the man, a 27 year old, washed up on the beach and was recovered by Police Search and Rescue members and declared dead on-scene by paramedics.The body of the woman was located by Police members in the Police helicopter who guided Police officers on the beach and our sea rescue craft to the location of the body, in the surf-line about 10 meters off-shore. She was also declared dead by paramedics.The age of the woman is not known at this stage and Police were attempting to identify the two people who are believed to be from the Eastern Cape.Police have opened an inquest docket.
