Fatal drowning accident

File ImageIan Gray, NSRI Port Elizabeth station commander, said:At 14h14, Saturday, 08 July, The Nelson Mandela Bay Coastal Water Rescue Committee (NMB - CWRC) was activated following a report to the SA Police Services alerted to a drowning in progress at Brighton Beach.NSRI Port Elizabeth duty crew launched the sea rescue craft Eikos Rescuer IV and NSRI rescue swimmers, the SA Police Services, Coastal Water Rescue rescue swimmers, Blue Water Bay Lifesaving Club lifeguards, who launched a BWBLSC rescue rubber-duck, EC Government Health EMS, the Nelson Mandela Bay Beach Office and Blue Water Bay iPatrol responded.On arrival on the scene a sea and shoreline search commenced for a 55 year old local man who was missing in the surf.He had been swimming with friends when he appeared to get into difficulty and eye-witnesses reported seeing the man disappear under water.During the search the body of the man was located and recovered from the surf zone by Coastal Water Rescue rescue swimmers who were deployed into the surf from a Blue Water Bay Lifesaving rescue rubber-duck.The body of the man was brought to the beach where EMS paramedics commenced Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) efforts but after extensive CPR efforts were exhausted on the scene the man was sadly declared deceased by paramedics.The body of the man has been taken into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services and Police have opened an inquest docket.Sincere Condolences are conveyed to family and friends.TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE