At 16h25, Saturday, 22nd February, NSRI Mossel Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at De Bakke, Mossel Bay.NSRI Mossel Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched sea rescue craft and the NSRI Mossel Bay rescue vehicle, SA Police Services, WC Government Health EMS, Mossel Bay Fire and Rescue Services and the Skymed rescue helicopter responded.On arrival on-scene a search commenced for a 16 year old male missing in the surf after reportedly being swept out to sea by rip-currents while swimming.An extensive sea, air and shore search revealed no sign of the teenager and a Police Dive Unit was activated. During a dive search by the Police Dive Unit the body of the teenager was located and recovered from the surf by Police divers.The teenager was confirmed to be deceased by paramedics.The deceased teenager is a local from Mossel Bay.Police have opened an inquest docket.The body of the teenager was handed into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services.
In a separate incidentAt 16h30, Saturday, 22nd February, NSRI Gordons Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress in front of the Koegel Bay camping site (on the False Bay coast between Gordons Bay and Kleinmond).Lifeguards had reportedly rescued one person from the surf but a second person remained missing in the surf.NSRI Gordons Bay launched sea rescue craft and an NSRI Gordons Bay rescue vehicle responded.On arrival on-scene the NSRI rescue craft joined a surf lifeguard rescue rubber duck searching for a 25 year old male that had disappeared after reportedly being swept out to sea by rip currents.During a search the body of the man was found floating in the surf line and NSRI rescue swimmers deployed from the sea rescue craft and recovered the body of the man to the beach by swimming the body through the surf to the beach where Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) efforts were commenced by the NSRI rescue swimmers.Gordons Bay Security ambulance service, WC Government Health EMS and the Skymed rescue helicopter arrived shortly thereafter and despite extensive CPR efforts by paramedics the man was declared deceased on the scene.Police have opened an inquest docket.It is not yet clear to NSRI where the man is from and Police are dealing with further details pertaining to the incident.The body of the deceased man has been handed into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services.
Photograph by Garth Moodien
