UPDATE: SEA RESCUE KOMMETJIE: Friday, 13th December: Body recovered:
At approximately 10h38 on Friday 13th December the body of the 13 year old Ocean View boy, who went missing yesterday in surf at Kommetjie Beach, was recovered by Police divers from shallow surf along the Kommetjie Beach.
An ongoing search operation by Police divers and Ocean View Police, assisted by NSRI Kommetjie volunteers, commenced at 04h35 this morning and at around 10h30 a local beach front resident noticed the body of the teenager floating in shallow surf and alerted the search party.
The body was recovered by the Police Dive Unit and has been handed into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services.
An inquest docket has been opened by Police.
Family of the deceased teenager were present and Police trauma counselors are caring for them.
The Emergency Services express sincere condolences to the family.
Original report:
Tom Coetzee, NSRI Kommetjie station commander, said:
“Just past 16h00 (Thursday, 12th December) NSRI Kommetjie volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of a male teenager missing in the surf at Kommetjie Beach.
Our NSRI Kommetjie volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched our sea rescue craft Discovery Rescue Runner, SPIRIT OF WINELANDS, our sea rescue Quad Bike and our Sea Rescue 4×4 vehicle. The Skymed rescue helicopter, SA Police Services, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services and CMR (Cape Medical Response) also responded.
On arrival on-scene a search commenced for a 13 year old male, from Ocean View, reported by his family as last seen disappearing under the water. It is suspected that the teenager may have been caught in a rip current while swimming.
Despite an extensive sea, shore and air search, which included a scuba dive search by Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services divers and a free dive sweeping line search by NSRI Kommetjie rescue swimmers, no sign of the teenager was found. On the arrival on-scene of a Police Dive Unit a sweeping line free dive search was again conducted at last light utilizing NSRI sea rescue swimmers, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services divers and Police Divers.
By last light no sign of the teenager has been found and a Police Dive Unit will continue an ongoing search operation at first light, assisted by NSRI Kommetjie volunteers.
Police have opened an investigation into the incident. Police trauma counsellors are assisting the family of the missing teenager.”
With the holiday season upon us, NSRI are urging bathers to learn about rip-currents by visiting the NSRI website www.nsri.org.za.
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