Drowning at Kenton-On-Sea

At 12h03 on Friday the 07th November, NSRI Port Alfred volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress in Kenton-On-Sea at Kenton Main Beach, alongside the Kariega River Mouth.NSRI Port Alfred duty crew, EC Government Health EMS and the SA Police Services, Traffic Services and Nature Conservation officers responded.On arrival on the scene it was found that a female learner, aged 11, had gotten into difficulty in rip currents and a fellow male learner, aged 11, had reportedly gone into the surf to try to assist her.Unidentified bystanders had then assisted the girl from the water but the young boy was missing in the surf.The 11 year old girl was treated by EMS paramedics and she has been transported to hospital by EMS ambulance in a serious but stable condition for further treatment and for observation for secondary drowning symptoms.Despite an extensive search no sign of the missing 11 year old boy has been found and Police and a Police Dive Unit has taken over the search operation.It appears that a group of children (NSRI estimate at least 60 learners to have been on the beach) from the Grahamstown School, Archi Mbolekwa, were on the beach accompanied by teachers. Some children were swimming when the girl got into difficulty suspected to be from rip currents and the missing boy had reportedly gone into the surf to try to assist before disappearing. Police are investigating.TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONESMS 32287 with your name and a message of support for our rescue crew. (SMS charged at R1)