Man drowns in PE while saving others

At 14h28, Thursday, 08th January, NSRI Port Elizabeth duty crew were activated following reports of a man missing in the surf at Smelly Creek, Port Elizabeth.NSRI Port Elizabeth launched sea rescue craft, the Nelson Mandela Bay Beach Office launched a rescue jet ski, Coastal Rescue, the SA Police Services, EC Government Health EMS responded.On arrival on-scene it was determined that a local adult man had gone into the water to assist a group of children that were in difficulty. According to eye-witness accounts he had rescued children from the water but it could not be determined how many children he had saved before he got into difficulty himself and disappeared under water.During a search the body of the man was located in the surf line and rescued onto a Beach Office jet-ski carrying a Coastal Rescue rescue swimmer. He was brought ashore where Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) efforts commenced but after all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted, he was declared deceased by paramedics. Our sincere condolences to the family and friends.Police have opened an inquest docket.TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONESMS 32287 with your name and a message of support for our Sea Rescue crew