Child missing and boat assisted (in two separate incidents)

At 13h05, Wednesday, 02 July, NSRI Shelly Beach crew were asked by Police Search and Rescue to assist in a search for a 9 year old male child reportedly swept out to sea by rip currents at Lucien Point, Margate on the South Coast, KwaZulu-Natal.We launched our rescue boat and joined the SA Police Services, Police Search and Rescue and Tower 13 lifeguards. Ambulance Services were also on-scene assisting in the search.It is believed that the child is from Parys, Free State, and had been at the beach with his mother and a child minder (nanny).Despite an extensive search no sign of the child has been found and NSRI has been released from the search operation. Police Search and Rescue will continue an on going search operation. Police have opened an investigation.Then, during this search and rescue operation, NSRI Shelly Beach activated at 13h15 following a request for assistance from a small craft MEERKAT reporting to be running on only one motor heading towards Shelly Beach with a skipper and two passengers on board and requiring assistance to bring the boat ashore on only the one motor.We dispatched our DISCOVERY Rescue Runner. The two male passengers transferred onto a local fishing boat and were brought safely ashore while the skipper was transferred onto our Rescue Runner and NSRI brought MEERKAT in safely through the surf-line to shore. Once all were ashore no further assistance was required.