Clint Abrahams, NSRI Strandfontein deputy station commander, said:MNANDI BEACH:At 16h39, NSRI Strandfontein duty crew were activated following reports of a mass drowning in progress at Mnandi beach.NSRI Strandfontein launched the sea rescue craft Grand West CSI and Law Enforcement Marine Unit launched a rescue jet-ski. Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, Metro Police and the SA Police Services responded.Lifeguards had rescued 3 teenage males from the surf and they had initiated a search for an 18 year old male, from Gugulethu, who was missing in the surf.All 4 males (believed to all be teenagers from Gugulethu) had reportedly been swept out to sea by rip-currents while swimming.1 of the 3 teenagers rescued by lifeguards, a 15 year old, was treated by Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services paramedics for hypothermia and for non-fatal drowning symptoms and he has been transported to hospital in a stable condition for observation for secondary drowning.An extensive sea and shore search revealed no sign of the teenager.NSRI rescue swimmers, Law Enforcement Marine rescue swimmers and lifeguards conducted free dive sweeping line searches.The EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter was activated to assist in the search and Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services dive unit were also dispatched.Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services rescue dive unit joined in the search
MONWABISI BEACH:At 18h16, NSRI Strandfontein were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Monwabisi Beach, in the vicinity off-shore of the tidal pool, Monwabisi.NSRI Strandfontein diverted sea rescue craft from Mnandi Beach to respond to Monwabisi Beach and Marine Law Enforcement, the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter and Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services were diverted to respond to Monwabisi Beach.Law Enforcement Marine Unit launched a rescue jet-ski to join in a search.On arrival on the scene an extensive sea, shore and air search revealed no sign of a missing 30 year old male, missing in the water after reportedly being swept out to sea by rip-currents according to eye-witnesses.Despite an extensive search no sign of the missing man could be found and details of the man, despite inital reports that he is 30 years of age and wearing shorts when he was last seen by eye-witnesses before he disappeared under water, could be obtained from bystanders on the beach.Following the Monwabisi search the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter then diverted to Mnandi Beach and assisted in an aerial search at the Mnandi Beach incident but no sign of the missing teenager has been found at Mnandi.A Police dive unit have been alerted and they will continue an ongoing search operation at both Mnandi and at Monwabisi.Police have opened an investigation into the Monwabisi drowning and into the Mnandi Beach drowning incidents.Police and Law Enforcement are assisting family of the missing teenager from the Mnandi Beach incident.
TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE
