UPDATE: PRINGLE BAY: Sunday 21 December 2014
No missing person has been reported to Police regarding a man suspected to have gone missing at Pringle Bay on Saturday, 20th December.
Also with no vehicle found to have been left behind after the days beach goers had left at nightfall to go home it appears to be that the paddle skier may have simply abandoned his paddle ski before leaving the beach for unknown reasons.
Police and a Police Dive Unit are continuing to monitor the situation and the Paddle ski remains at the lifeguard station at Pringle Bay but no one has yet come forward to claim the Paddle Ski and until new information comes to light no active search will being conducted.
ORIGINAL RELEASE: Saturday 20 December
JEFFREYS BAY:
At 07h00 NSRI Jeffreys Bay duty crew responded to assist Police 10km East of Jeffreys Bay after members of the public on a morning beach walk discovered the body of a man washed up on the beach.
The body of an adult male, believed to be that of a 20 year old Johannesburg man who went missing on Tuesday, 16th December, at Jeffreys Bay while swimming, was recovered from the beach and has been handed into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services.
Family of the man were assisted by Police Trauma Counsellors and formal positive identification will be held in conjunction with the Police.
RICHARDS BAY:
At 08h28 NSRI Richards Bay duty crew were activated following reports of a boat run aground on the Northern breakwater of Richards Bay’s Port.
Umhlatuzi lifeguards assisted all 4 people, from the fishing ski-boat PIET PALING, a husband and wife, their 14 year old adopted son and a friends daughter, aged 15, all from Pretoria.
Only the skipper sustained minor lacerations to his shin and knee. None were required to be transported to hospital for any medical care.
It appears that they left the Richards Bay Ski-Boat Club and on exiting the Port they sustained motor failure and despite trying to take corrective action, including throwing out anchor and restarting one motor, in the 2.5 meter swell sets and a 10 knot North Easterly wind they were washed onto Dolosse next to Newark Beach.
The NSRI sea rescue craft SPIRIT OF ROUND TABLE towed their damaged boat to the slipway where it has been recovered and they required no further assistance.
KLEINMOND:
At 11h35, NSRI Gordons Bay and the Red Cross AMS Skymed rescue helicopter were responding to Kleinmond following reports of a diver missing but shortly into the response the diver was found safe.
It appears that two divers had entered the water but only one surfaced and fearing for his dive buddy he had raised the alarm but then the second diver surfaced unharmed and a rescue response was called off.
PRINGLE BAY:
At 12h15 NSRI Gordons Bay duty crew were activated to respond to assist lifeguards at Pringle Bay searching for a man reportedly suspected to be missing after his paddle-ski washed ashore unmanned.
An eye-witness then came forward reporting seeing the man paddling on the paddle-ski but a short while later it capsized and the eye-witness suspects that the man had disappeared under water.
Lifeguards had been searching for 30 minutes without success and they requested additional assistance.
NSRI Gordons Bay launched the sea rescue craft SPIRIT OF SURF-SKI and the Red Cross AMS Skymed rescue helicopter responded.
Despite an extensive search no sign of the missing man has been found.
A Police Dive Unit has been activated to take over a search and an investigation will be opened by Police.
No family have come forward to claim that a person is missing but with no one coming forward to collect the paddle-ski and with the eye-witness account it is strongly suspected that the unidentified man has disappeared in the water.
KNYSNA:
At 12h40 NSRI Knysna duty crew were activated following reports of a catamaran ski-boat capsized in the Knysna Heads.
NSRI Knysna duty crew launched the sea rescue craft JAYTEE III, COLORPRESS RESCUER and SPIRIT OF KYC.
The boat, with 4 people onboard (believed to all be locals), a family of a husband, a wife and their son, aged 24 and a male friend, 20, capsized in the Knysna Heads and two private boats, that were in the area at the time, rescued all four from the water and brought them safely ashore.
ER24 and WC Government Health EMS paramedics treated the mother for a laceration to her arm and the 20 year old male for near drowning symptoms and only they has been transported to hospital for further treatment.
NSRI Knysna towed the capsized boat to the jetty in Knysna Lagoon where the owner will attempt to salvage his craft.
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