RESCUE OPERATIONS / 10 DECEMBER 2015

Strand – Search for missing teen:

At 13h17, Thursday, 10th December, NSRI Gordons Bay duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) following eye-witness reports of a drowning in progress at the strand Pavilion, Strand.

Edward Russouw, NSRI Gordons Bay deputy station commander, said:'We launched our Sea Rescue craft Spirit of Surfski and dispatched rescue swimmers to the scene and the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter, SA Police Services, WC Government Health EMS, Law Enforcement Marine Unit, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services and a Police Dive Unit responded.'

'On arrival on-scene a search commenced for a 17 year old Eerste River male who had disappeared under water after reportedly getting into difficulty in the water while swimming despite a friend trying to rescue him.

A K-9 search and rescue team joined the search efforts and the Law Enforcement Marine Unit launched a rescue jet-ski to assist the NSRI sea rescue craft searching.

An extensive air, sea and shore search has revealed no sign of the missing teenager who is presumed to have drowned.

Family are being assisted by Police Trauma Counselors.

A Police Dive Unit will continue the search and Police have opened an investigation into the incident.

A Police helicopter will join in an ongoing search on Friday and NSRI will assist the Police Dive Unit in their ongoing search.

These pictures are available for media download on Sea Rescue's Flickr page.

-ENDS-

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